Sulfhydryl Inhibition as a Mechanism in the Effects of ACTH and Cortisone. ∗

Abstract

Conclusion

Evidence has been presented to suggest that ACTH and cortisone produce their inhibitory action on the skin-spreading effect of the hyaluronidase enzyme system thru the agency of sulfhydryl deprivation. This finding warrants further exploration of enzyme systems known to be inhibited or depressed by the C₁₁-oxygenated adrenal-cortical steroids for sulfhydryl deficiency created by these steroids as a common denominator in the inhibitory effect. The humoral (whole-blood) content of -SH groups after clinically effective therapy with cortisone does not necessarily reflect a sufficiency of this factor in the fixed tissues where its influence on the intracellular enzyme systems would be registered by the functional integrity of these systems.