title: Corticosterone is converted to 6 beta-hydroxycorticosterone in rat: effects of the metabolite on urinary electrolyte excretion.
abstract: This study was performed to determine whether corticosterone (B), the major glucocorticoid of rat, is metabolized to its 6 beta-OH derivative (6 beta-OH-B) and whether this derivatives has any effects on Na+ or K+ transport in rat kidney. Normal and adrenalectomized (adx) rats were injected with [3H]B and urine was collected for 5 h and examined for metabolites of B. Metabolites were collected by solid phase extraction on mu Bondapak C18 cartridges and fractionated by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Fractions coeluting with 6 beta-OH-B were rechromatographed by normal phase thin layer chromatography. Approximately 5% of the radioactivity recovered from the urine of both intact and adx rats cochromatographed with 6 beta-OH-B on the two systems. Mass spectra of this fraction were virtually identical to those of authentic 6 beta-OH-B, demonstrating that rats do metabolize B to its 6 beta-OH derivative. To evaluate the biological activity of this metabolite, adx rats were injected with NaCl and KCl and with varying dosage of either 6 beta-OH-B or reference steroids (aldosterone, B, 6 beta-OH-F). 6 beta-OH-B produced a significant antinatriuresis at all doses. Kaliuresis occurred only at the highest dose and creatinine excretion increased, suggesting increased glomerular filtration from a glucocorticoid effect. Although 6 beta-OH-B may simply be exerting mineralo- and glucocorticoid actions there are two unexplained findings. First, 6 beta-OH-B (10 micrograms/100 g) significantly decreased urinary K excretion with associated antinatriuresis, an effect which has not been seen with Aldo administration. Second, neither a kaliuretic nor antinatriuretic effect of 6 beta-OH-B could be demonstrated in experiments using a method to enhance mineralocorticoid induced K+ excretion (K+ deprivation and NaCl loading only). Yet, the dose used was clearly antinatriuretic in the initial bioassay. It is concluded that the rat is capable of metabolizing B to its 6 beta-OH-B derivative which appears in substantial quantity in the urine. This metabolite produces antinatriuresis in the adrenalectomized rat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia/VCU, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Watlington
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Grogan
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; C044550:6-hydroxycorticosterone; D003345:Corticosterone