STUDY ON MECHANISM OF ACTION OF 6-DEHYDRO-16-METHYLENE-HYDROCORTISONE (StC 407) IN RATS

Comparison of Effects of 6-Dehydro-16-Methylene-Hydrocortisone (Stc 407) and Dexamethasone on the Suppression of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal System

“…In view of the therapeutic effectiveness of STC 407 in Cushing's syndrome, we decided to investigate the mechanism of this steroid. As we have recently shown in studies carried out in normal and in adrenalectomized rats, one of the sites of action of STC 407 seems to be the hypothalamus, as manifested by a reduction in the corticotrophin-releasing-factor (CRF) content of the stalk median eminence (SME) of the hypothalamus (Berthold et al 1969). If one assumes that this mechanism of action also pertains to man, the treatment of Cushing's syndrome with STC 407 would seem to meet the requirements of Tamm (1961) that for optimal therapy of Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal hyperplasia the drug should act primarily on the hypothalamus.…”