[The role of ACTH in regulating dehydroepiandrosterone secretion in primates]

The effect of repeated administration of a prolonged ACTH agent on the secretion of glucocorticoids, dehydroepiandrosterone (DEA) and delta 4- and delta 5-precursors was studied in experiments on male hamadryas baboons. The administration of Sinacten-depot at a dose of 1 mg for 5 days caused a noticeable decrease in the basal levels of cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, pregnenolone, 17-oxypregnenolone, and DEA. Response of the adrenal glands to additional ACTH stimulation against a background of lowered basal indicators was completely preserved and increased 2-3-fold for pregnenolone, 17-oxypregnenolone and DEA. The amplitude of a maximum increment of cortisol in response to stress before and after ACTH treatment did not differ significantly, and for DEA it increased three times. Immobilization stress after preliminary ACTH treatment caused a stable increase in the level of DEA during stress factor action as well as 3 days after drug action.