COMPARATIVE ACTIVITIES OF 17-HYDR0XY-11-DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE AND 11-DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE1

Abstract

Desoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA) corrects for some of the deficiencies caused by adrenalectomy. It also elicits functional and structural changes characteristic of hypertensive vascular disease (Selye et al., 1943; Masson et al., 1949). Its hormonal status in normal physiology is still in question. The possibility existed therefore that 17-hydroxy-11-desoxycorticosterone (compound “S”)which has been isolated a so from the adrenals, might be the most significant natural salt-retaining hormone. Existing data on the pharmaco ogical activities of this steroid are inadequate. Hence, we have compared the activity of its acetate with that of DCA under identical conditions in (1) adrenalectomized rats as well as in (2) rats under conditions used for the production of DCA hypertensive disease. 1. A drenalectomized rats. A. Experimental 28 rats weighing from 80 to 110 g. were adrenalectomized and divided equally into groups of 7. Group I consisted of untreated controls which received two daily injections of 0.1 cc. of cotton seed oil; group II,