Erving H. Morley

Adrenal Corticoid Activities of 2-Methylhydrocortisone Acetate and 2-Methyl-9a-Fluorohydrocortisone Acetate

Summary (1) Two new analogues of hydrocortisone, 2-methylhydrocortisone acetate and 2-methyl-9 α-fluorohydrocortisone acetate, have been tested for corticoid activity on the following assays: anti-inflammatory, glycogen deposition, muscle work, and sodium retention. A summary of the data is presented in Table VI. (2) The sodium-retaining activity of 2-methyl-9 α-fluorohydrocortisone acetate is 90 x desoxycorticosterone acetate and is, therefore, one of the most potent mineralocorticoids.

Work performance of adrenalectomized rats given cortisone and 17-hydroxycorticosterone by continuous intravenous injection.

Summary Under the conditions of these experiments 17-hydroxycorticosterone was found to have about twice the biologic potency of cortisone in the work performance test on adrenalectomized-nephrectomized male rats.

Role of the adrenal in response of rats to orinase.

Summary In the intact rat low doses of Orinase produced a significant depression of blood sugar and deposition of liver glycogen while higher doses were ineffective. The adrenalectomized rat was found to be approximately 10 times as sensitive and the adrenal demedullated rat 3-6 times more sensitive to Orinase than the intact rat. Hydrocortisone partially and epinephrine completely counteracted the hypoglycemic effects of Orinase. Failure of high doses of this sulfonylurea to produce hypoglycemia and liver glycogen deposition in the intact rats may be due to a stimulation of epinephrine secretion by the adrenal medulla. It is also suggested that glucocorticoid secretion is also stimulated by high doses of Orinase in the intact and adrenal demedullated animals.

Quantitative biologic activity of delta 1,6 dehydrocortisone as compared to cortisone.

Summary Cortisone acetate and Δ4,6dehydrocortisone acetate were compared in the muscle-work test and by the liver glycogen deposition test. According to these criteria the quantitative potency of the diene is probably no greater than 50% of the potency of cortisone acetate. It is suggested that the reported differences in the biologic properties of these two compounds may be explicable by the assumption that larger doses of the diene would cause biologic responses which are identical with those caused by cortisone.

Failure of Certain Vitamins to Affect the Survival of the Eviscerate Rat

Summary Male eviscerate rats were fed intravenously with solutions of 0.9% NaCl, glucose, insulin, streptomycin, and penicillin with and without the following mixtures of vitamins: Bi2, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenate and nicotinamide; rutin and ascorbic acid; and vit. A, D, and E. The results were negative.