[Effect of transformed steroid compounds on the adrenal gland function]

A study was made of the effect of steroid compounds of the pregnan series containing delta5-3-oxy- or delta4-3-keto-group in the A ring, oxygen-containing substitutes in the D ring and a built up 20-ketolateral chain on the adrenal gland function and the corticosterone-receptor (type III) interaction. The adrenal gland function was assessed by the rate of the aldosterone and corticosterone secretion into the adrenal vein and by the adrenaline content in the tissue of the rat adrenal gland. Replacement of delta4-3-keto-group by delta5-3-oxy-group in the A ring changed in a number of cases both the direction and the action intensity of the preparations on the adrenal gland function. Among the compounds of the delta4-3-ketone series in which the oxygen-containing substitutes were absent in the lateral chain at CC22 and 16 alpha, 17 alpha-epoxyderivatives there were revealed steroids which stimulated aldosterone secretion. Compounds with the 3-keto-group in the A ring significantly decreased the corticosterone-receptor interaction, whereas introduction into the position 17 of the steroid molecule (with the 3-oxy-group) of the oxy-group, and into the position 16 of the OAc-group increased the corticosterone-receptor interaction significantly.