Sex difference in hypertensive action of metopirone in relation to its plasma levels in the rat

Influence of hydrocortisone on chick embryo retina development

Treatment of chick embryos in ovo with hydrocortisone-21-phosphate (a single dose of 150 micrograms) caused a marked reduction of retinal thymidine kinase activity 24 h later. The inhibitory effect was highest (65-70%) in 8-10-day-old embryos and declined with age, disappearing after day 15. It was accompanied by a reduction in thickness of the retinal layers. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) treatment (10 micrograms daily for 2 days) also produced an age-dependent inhibitory effect on retinal thymidine kinase, whereas treatment with a single dose of 200 micrograms of metopirone, a compound that prevents the 11 beta-hydroxylation of steroid molecules in the adrenal glands, impeded the decrease in thymidine kinase activity that normally occurs in chick embryo retina after day 9 of development. In addition, metopirone prevented the inhibition exerted by ACTH on thymidine kinase activity but had no effect on the action of hydrocortisone.

Influence of species, sex and drug pretreatment on the metabolism of metyrapone

The metabolism of metyrapone was investigated in three mammalian and four non-mammalian species, and keto reduction was found to be the major metabolic route (except in the cat). Toad, lizard and tortoise did not form metyrapone N-oxides. Rat and cat formed both isomeric N-oxides of metyrapone, whereas rabbit and pigeon have a limited capacity to form only the N-oxide II and N-oxide I, respectively. There were marked sex differences in both keto reduction and N-oxidation in the rat. Anthracene did not affect metyrapone N-oxides formation in the male rat; however phenobarbitone and pregnenolone significantly induced N-oxide II formation, whereas ethanol induced both isomeric N-oxides formation. Cimetidine, a known cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, inhibited the N-oxide II formation but with an enhanced N-oxide I formation.

Effects of metyrapone on plasma corticosterone concentration in Gallus domesticus

Metyrapone (75 or 150 mg/kg body wt) was injected into fed and starving birds and their plasma corticosterone concentrations monitored. Metyrapone stimulated a hypercorticosteronaemia in fed but not in starving birds. It persisted for up to 4 hr. No significant hypocorticosteronaemia was noted subsequently. Pretreatment (2 hr) with metyrapone inhibited the response to exogenous ACTH.