Experimental Model of Congenital Adrenal Cortical Hyperplasia Producedin Uterowith an Inhibitor of 11β-Steroid Hydroxylase

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Abstract
Congenital adrenal cortical hyperplasia has been produced in the offspring of pregnant rats treated with metyrapone, an inhibitor of 11β-steroid hydroxylase. Female offspring also have clitoral hypertrophy, and activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is increased in maternal and fetal adrenal glands by this agent. These effects are reduced by corticosterone. Basal corticosterone production and the increased corticosterone production due to the addition of substrates of 11β-steroid hydroxylase in quartered adrenal glands are markedly reduced in mature females treated with metyrapone. These experiments have shown that an inhibitor of 11β-steroid hydroxylase produces the same type of congenital adrenal cortical hyperplasia and clitoral hypertrophy which occur spontaneously in the hypertensive form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to a genetic deficiency of this enzyme.