ACTH 1-17 effects on intermediary metabolites in healthy subjects

Some acute and chronic metabolic effects of a new ACTH analogue (ACTH 1-17, Synchrodyn) were evaluated in healthy subjects and compared to those of the synthetic fragment ACTH 1-24. The peptides were injected at doses reportedly comparable with regard to their corticotropic effect, i.e. 100 micrograms ACTH 1-17 and 250 micrograms ACTH 1-24. A similar increase in blood glucose, NEFA and ketone bodies concentrations, without any significant modification of insulin, C-peptide and glucagon levels, was observed after injecting both peptides. The chronic treatment with ACTH 1-24 induced a significant increase in basal lactate, pyruvate and alanine blood concentrations. The levels of these metabolites resulted unaffected or slightly reduced after the corresponding treatment with ACTH 1-17. Our data are compatible with a certain degree of exhaustion of the adrenocortical reserve or, alternatively, a resetting of the circadian cortisol rhythm after prolonged treatment with the ACTH 1-17 analogue.