SOME BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE GLUCOSIDE1,2

Abstract

Desoxycorticosterone glycoside (DCG), a water-soluble compound, maintained life and growth in young adrenalectomized rats when given by daily subcut. injns. but dosages needed were much higher than for desoxycorticosterone acetate in oil (DCA). DCG was about half as active when given in single daily doses by stomach tube as by subcut. injn. Single large doses of DCG exerted effects of less magnitude and duration than did DCA. Large doses of DCG exerted a profound "anesthetic" effect in adrenalectomized rats. DCG helped protect adrenalectomized rats from water intoxication but did not exert more rapid actions than DCA in oil. In other stresses[long dash]exposure to cold, intraperit. glucose shock and K intoxication[long dash]DCG showed little if any protective action when given by various routes during or just before application of the stress. Since DCG is apparently rapidly absorbed, this indcates that the limitations of the desoxycorticosterones in such conditions is not due to slow absorption.