ANTIPHLOGISTIC PROPERTY OF CERTAIN 11-DESOXY STEROIDS AFTER SYSTEMIC ADMINISTRATION

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Abstract
Two 11-desoxy corticoids, desoxycorticosterone (DOC) and Reichstcin′s Cpd. “S,” were found to be antiphlogistic in the rat (using the granuloma pouch), after either systemic or local administration. In addition, when given systcmically in large doses, they were catabolic and thymolytic. These findings assimilate these steroids to glucocorticoids although they have generally been classified among mineralocorticoids. Progesterone, given systemically, was slightly antiphlogistic and thymolytic. Its antiphlogistic property was more evident after local administration. The following hypotheses are considered to explain the mode of action of these 11-desoxy steroids on inflammation, thymus and body weights: 1. These steroids may be active as such but, being weak or rapidly inactivated by the liver, large doses must be administered. 2. These steroids may exert their activity only after being converted in the body into another compound (possibly the correspondent 11-oxy derivatives) endowed with the described properties. 3. Since large closes have to be given, these steroids may produce such metabolic disturbances that the antiphlogistic effect observed would be due to non-specific stress reaction. The data do not permit a choice among these hypotheses.