RESTORATION OF HEPATIC AND MAMMARY GLAND HEXOSEMONOPHOSPHATE SHUNT ACTIVITY IN THE ADRENALECTOMIZED LACTATING RAT BY ADRENAL CORTICOIDS

Abstract

A comparison of the ability of various steroids to maintain normal levels of mammary gland and liver hexosemonophosphate shunt enzymes, and to promote normal growth rates in the litters of adrenalectomized rats, showed the glucocorticoids, hydrocortisone, cortisone, and corticosterone to be most effective. Deoxycorticosterone was effective at a high dose level, but 11-deoxy-17-hydroxy-corticosterone and progesterone had very little influence upon hepatic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Combinations of deoxycorticosterone with a glucocorticoid were no more effective than the latter alone. A postoperative delay of up to 10 days apparently did not cause changes which impaired the ability of the animals to react to hydrocortisone or cortisone; increased enzyme levels and litter weights were demonstrable under these conditions.