Metabolism of natural and synthetic corticosteroids in relation to their effects on mouse fetuses.
14C-glucose uptake by mouse fetuses was reduced by doses of dexamethasone, 200 mug or more, which over 2 days caused fetal death. Uptake by strain C57B1/6J greater than A/J greater than SWV. Corticosterone or cortisol, 4 mg, caused neither reduced uptake nor fetal death. These differences occurred despite similar maternal hyperglycemia in all cases. Recovery of 3H-steroid after 15 min, total and unchanged steroid per gram fetal tissue was: corticosterone 1.7 and 0.3%; dexamethasone 0.12 and 0.06% of the dose. Rapid metabolism of corticosterone apparently prevents accumulation in fetal tissue sufficient to evoke a response under these conditions.
D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000139:chemically induced; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011247:Pregnancy
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005947:Glucose; D003345:Corticosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone