Effects of ACTH on the Mechanism of Increased Capillary Permeability to Trypan Blue in Inflammation

Abstract

ACTH or adrenocorti-cotropic hormone inhibits the effect of an acid exudate and inhibits the exudin present in an acid exudate in increasing local capillary permeability. In contrast to cortisone, ACTH fails to suppress appreciably the action of leukotaxine in increasing capillary permeability in inflammation. The combination of ACTH and cortisone seems to be a more effective way of restricting the acute inflammatory response having an acid reaction. This is possibly due to the presence of some leukotaxine and of large quantities of exudin in an inflammatory exudate at an acid level. These findings are discussed in the light of a possible more effective treatment of rheumatoid conditions, as well as the possible mechanism involved in the use of these drugs.