Effect of adrenalectomy, corticosteroids and some other anti-inflammatory agents, Salazopyrin, thyroxine and vitamin A on the exchangeable sulphate pool and on sulphate incorporation in vivo into costal cartilage of the mouse.

Abstract

Drug effects on the size of the exchangeable sulphate pool and the incorporation rate into costal cartilage in vivo were studied by a new double isotope method in growing mice of the N. M. R. I. strain. Adrenalectomy caused a significant decrease both in the size of the sulphate pool and the rate of sul‐phation in cartilage. Hydrocortisone (a water soluble form), acetylsalicylic acid, oxyphenylbutazone and dimethyl‐sulphoxide given in rather high doses had no effect on the sulphate pools or the sulphate incorporation rates. Hydrocortisone‐acetate (in oil or suspension), prednisolone‐acetate and dexamethasone all elicited a dose‐dependent retardation of body growth and a considerable increase in the size both of the total sulphate pool and the pool per g body weight. The sulphation rate of the cartilage samples even at high doses was only moderately depressed by the steroids studied. Only prednisolone elicited a marked inhibition with a dose above 40 μg. Salazopyrin® (4 mg/day × 6) considerably decreased sulphate incorporation without affecting the size of the sulphate pool. Vitamin A caused a marked and dose‐dependent increase in the sulphate pool and a moderate and dose‐independent decrease in the sulphation of cartilage. l‐Thyroxine up to a dose of 1 μg/day depressed sulphate incorporation, but a 10 times higher dose stimulated it. The sulphate pools displayed a graded elevation after increasing doses of l‐thyroxine.