Effects of hydrocortisone upon enzyme activity and metabolism in rat liver.

Abstract

In the 8-hr. fasted rats, the activity of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and glycogen, protein and lipid contents in the liver were followed with time after single administration of hydrocortisone acetate (HCA). GPT activity reached a maximum level at the 4th hr. after single subcutaneous injection of 2mg/100g body weight of HCA. Glycogen deposition was started to increase at the 2nd hr. after HCA injection. No correlation was observed between GPT activity and glycogen deposition within 8hrs. following HCA administration. The change of liver protein also was not related to GPT activity. Liver lipid showed moderate decrease after HCA administration.The activities of GPT and octanoate oxidation system in the liver of rats fed on the fixed amount of food increased to about twice or more the controls after HCA administration, 1mg every 12hrs. for 4 days. The same dose of corticosterone also increased the activities of these enzymes, but the action of HCA was somewhat stronger than that of corticosterone. The administration of 19-nortestosterone phenylpropionate in 0.5mg concomitantly 1mg of HCA every 12 hrs. for 4 days somewhat antagonized HCA only with respect to the change in body weight. On the other hand, desoxycorticosterone acetate in 1mg suppressed the effects of HCA on the glycogen, protein and lipid contents in rat liver.