title: Effect of acute ACTH administration on plasma steroid levels in the dog.
abstract: Production of adrenal steroids in intact and castrated dogs is stimulated acutely by ACTH. While the increase in plasma cortisol, 17-hydroxypregnenolone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone is not affected by castration, the increment of dehydroepiandrosterone is totally abolished. On the other hand, administration of 17-hydroxypregnenolone in adrenalectomized dogs caused an increase in plasma C-19 steroids such as dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione and testosterone indicating that this C-21 progestin in plasma is rapidly converted. The site of this conversion is likely the testis. Furthermore, acute hCG administration in adrenalectomized dogs resulted in a marked increase in the levels of plasma 17-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone. However, our data show an ACTH-induced rise in 5-androstene-3 beta. 17 beta-diol in intact and castrated dogs, thus suggesting that this steroid is a good parameter to assess in the stimulation of adrenal steroidogenesis by ACTH.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011372:Progestins / Q000097:blood; D011467:Prostate / Q000502:physiology; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D011372:Progestins; D013256:Steroids; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone