THE EFFECT OF THE 11β-HYDROXYLASE BLOCKING SUBSTANCE, SU-4885, ON THE URINARY EXCRETION OF 17-HYDROXYCORTICOSTEROIDS AND OF MELANOCYTE STIMULATING HORMONE-LIKE ACTIVITY

Abstract

The effect of an 11[beta]-hydroxylase inhibiting substance (SU-4885) on the urinary excretion of 17-OHCS and MSH-like activity was studied in 10 normal male subjects. SU-4885 was administered both orally and intravenously in a dosage range varying from 3 to 16 g. A sharp increase of free and of low polar conjugated 17-OHCS excretion was noted in every case. The 17-OHCS of higher polarity showed no consistent changes. An evident increase in MSH-like activity in urine was found in only 2 subjects. A doubtful effect was present in 3 other cases. It is suggested that there is no exact parallelism between ACTH and MSH response to an inhibition of cortisol biosynthesis in the adrenal cortex.