EFFECT OF DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE GLYCOSIDE ON THE TUBULAR REABSORPTION OF GLUCOSE1

Abstract

A diabetogenic action has been suggested for desoxycorticosterone acetate. The glycosuria of both the partially depancreatized (Ingle and Thorn, 1941) and the adrenalectomized-phlorhizinized rat (Wells and Kendall, 1940) is increased by DCA. The inactivity of DCA in the glycogen deposition test (Pabst, Sheppard and Kuizenga, 1947) and the increased sensitivity to insulin which follows its administration (Cheng and Sayers, 1949) suggest that desoxycorticosterone does not intervene directly in the intermediary metabolism of glucose but in the mechanism for its renal tubular reabsorption. The following experiments were designed to investigate this possibility. During studies of the effect of desoxycorticosterone glycoside (DCG) on the electrolyte metabolism of dogs, qualitative tests for glucose were performed on the urine of three animals. The drug was given in doses of 20 mg. per square meter per hour. In each instance sugar appeared in the urine during the period of administration and was absent before and afterward.