MECHANISM OF THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF 11-BETA-HYDROXYPREGNA-1,4-DIENE-3,20-DIONE (BETA-HOP) AT HIGH-CONCENTRATIONS IN RNA-SYNTHESIS

Abstract

The strong inhibition of thymocyte-RNA synthesis by 11.beta.-hydroxy-pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione (.DELTA.HOP) reported recently, fulfills the three conditions required for a non-genomic effect, i.e.: no persistence upon washing out, instantaneous action and effect in the presence of inhibitors of RNA synthesis. Injection of (.DELTA.HOP) into mice (2 mg/100 g) also causes a 32% inhibition in their thymocyte-RNA synthesis, but the mechanism of this latter inhibition has still not been clarified.