Connective Tissue VII. Factors Inhibiting the Dermal Chemical Response to Cortisol.

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions A single injection of a physiologic dose of cortisol (3 mg/ kg) into young, normal rats resulted in a marked decrease in dermal concentrations of 0.15 m saline soluble hexosamine and nitrogen and neutral soluble and insoluble collagens. Associated with these changes was a profound increase in dermal concentration of acid soluble collagen. These changes in dermal chemistry produced by one dose of cortisol were maintained for at least one week after steroid administration. This dermal chemical response to administration of one dose of cortisol was not found in rachitic, aged or Dilantin treated rats. These results suggest that with the chronic stress resulting from the starvation imposed by a rachitogenic diet, or with advanced age rats become refractory to cortisol. As little as one dose of Dilantin was sufficient apparently to inhibit or antagonize the usual dermal chemical response to cortisol.