SELECTIVE DESTRUCTION OF ADRENAL CORTEX BY PULSE DOSES OF DERIVATIVES OF 12-METHYLBENZ(a)ANTHRACENE

Abstract
Pulse doses of emulsions of ten polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons were found to destroy the adrenal cortex selectively. The corticolytic hydrocarbons are derivatives of 12-methylbenz(a)anthracene which possess at position 7 an alkyl, methoxymethyl, formyl, or hydroxyalkyl group. It would appear that the active corticolytic agent is 7-hydroxyalkyl-12-methylbenz(a)anthracene, of chemical source or generated in metabolism.