METABOLIC COMPETITION BETWEEN DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE ACETATE AND STROPHANTHIN-G IN THE RAT1

Abstract

To explore the possibility of interaction between desoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA) and ouabain in the intact animal, adult rats were given daily injections of DCA, ouabain, or both together for a period of 30 days (1) DCA therapy alone resulted in a marked fall of K concentration and rise of Na concentration in skeletal and cardiac muscle, together with atrophy of the adrenal glomerulosa and depletion of lipid droplets in that zone. (2) Ouabain therapy resulted in enlargement of the adrenal glomerulosa, with an increase in its lipid content. There was a marked fall of Mg concentration and moderate fall of K concentration in skeletal and cardiac muscle. (3) DCA+ ouabain therapy resulted in changes generally similar to those found when only ouabain was given. This group showed partial to complete inhibition of the various DCA effects. The results suggest that a metabolic antagonism exists between DCA and ouabain in the rat.