Potentiation of the Biologic Effect of Administered Cortisol by Estrogen Treatment

Abstract

Estrogen therapy had no effect on glucose excretion during control periods in diabetic subjects, but was found to markedly potentiate the glucosuric effect of administered cortisol and to produce a considerable increase in the corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG or transcortin). When the cortisol analogues, prednisone and prednisolone, were given, however, potentiation of biologic effect was not consistently observed. Potentiation of cortisol but not prednisone by estrogen therapy may be related to differences in metabolism in these 2 compounds, although a more direct influence of the estrogen or CBG on the action of corticoids as they influence carbohydrate metabolism has not been ruled out.