title: Potentiation of glucocorticoid activity by 5 beta-dihydrocortisol: its role in glaucoma.
abstract: 5 beta-Dihydrocortisol potentiated the threshold level (the smallest dose producing a measurable effect) of topically applied cortisol (0.02 percent) and dexamethasone (0.003 percent) in causing nuclear translocation of the cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor in rabbit iris-ciliary body tissue. 5 beta-Dihydrocortisol accumulates in cells cultured from trabecular meshwork specimens from patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, but not in similar cells derived from nonglaucomatous patients. In view of the sensitivity of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma to the effects of glucocorticoids in raising intraocular pressure, this potentiation may be responsible for the steroid sensitivity and for the ocular hypertension seen in this disorder.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D007498:Iris / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone