title: The effects of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and an equivalent dose of cortisol on the serum concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins.
abstract: Previous studies have shown a strong lipid-lowering effect of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) in healthy individuals and in patients with different kinds of dyslipoproteinemia. The mechanism behind this effect has not been established and its direct ACTH-specific nature has been questioned. Therefore, the present study was performed. Thirty healthy young males were randomized into 3 groups of equal size: one group received ACTH1-24 1 mg IM, daily for 4 days, another group was treated with cortisol 150 mg ID (50 mg tid) daily for 4 days, whereas a control group was observed for 4 days. Fasting blood samples were collected before and after treatment or observation. The serum concentrations of cholesterol (12%, P < .05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (24%, P < .01), and apolipoprotein (apo) B (31%, P < .01) decreased significantly in the ACTH group but not in the cortisol and control groups. The statistical workup confirmed that only ACTH had a lowering effect on the apo B-containing lipoproteins. In contrast, the results indicated conformity between the treatment groups with respect to increases in the serum apo E concentrations. There were inconsistent changes in the serum concentrations of the triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apo A, and lipoprotein(a). The main results were clear: the lowering effect of ACTH on the serum concentration of apo B-containing lipoproteins could not be ascribed to cortisol. These, in combination with previous in vitro results, indicated an ACTH-specific effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Hospital, Lund 221 85, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna-Lena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Arnar Thor
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Rafnsson
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johannsson
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dallongeville
authors.forename: Margret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arnadottir
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002784:Cholesterol; D006854:Hydrocortisone