[Corticosteroid synthesis in chicken adrenals as affected by o,p'-DDD]

The corticosteroids biosynthesis in adrenals with administration of o,p'-DDD in doses of 40, 100, 200 mg/kg was studied for two weeks in experiments on chickens. The corticosteroids biosynthesis was judged by formation of corticosterone, hydrocortisone and desoxycorticosterone by 2% adrenal homogenates from the precursors (pregnelonone and 11-hydroxyprogesterone) introduced into the incubation medium. The formed corticosteriods were isolated chromatographically, then they were identified and quantitatively determined by spectrophotometry following the reaction with tetrazolium blue. The data of the studies performed by thin-layer chromatography show the inhibition of the 11-beta-hydroxylizing system with administration of o,p'-DDD in a dose of 50 mg/kg and stimulation of 21-hydroxylation of steroids. When introducing the inhibitor in a larger amount, most enzymatic systems participating in the process of the corticosteroids biosynthesis are inhibited.