Abstract
Summary
The effects of a series of steroids on the carbohydrate metabolism of the bird were studied using blood glucose and liver glycogen as endpoints. The highly active compounds in the hyperglycemic reaction were hydrocortisone and corticosterone and the active compounds in the liver glycogen test were the above two plus 11-dehydrocorti-costerone. Cortisone was inactive in both tests and 11-desoxycorticosterone acetate was tested only in the hyperglycemia reaction and was inactive. If hydrocortisone is assigned an activity of 100 in the glycogen test, then corticosterone shows an activity of 12.5 and 11-dehydrocorticosterone an activity of 1. In direct contrast to the mammal, cortisone is inactive in the bird. Testosterone appears to lower blood glucose but this apparently is a result of an increase in red blood cell number rather than an absolute drop in glucose present in the blood. Stilboestrol had no effect on blood glucose levels.
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