Effect of Hydrocortisone on C 14 OOH—P-Aminosalicylic Acid Distribution in Cartilage of the Rat ∗

Abstract

Summary

C¹⁴ as PAS and/or its metabolites is deposited in appreciable amounts in the heart, costal cartilage and tibial cap of the normal rat following the intraperitoneal injection of C¹⁴OOH-PAS. Localization in the avascular cartilage is significant in that this salicylate is mainly protein-free and thus available for cellular metabolism. In hypo-physectomized rats hydrocortisone inhibited noticeably the concentration of C¹⁴OOH-PAS in the costal cartilage of steroid-treated rats when compared to the untreated control. Growth hormone tends to counteract this inhibitory action of hydrocortisone in the deposition of C¹⁴ noted 15 minutes, but not at longer intervals, after intraperitoneal injection of C¹⁴OOH-PAS. This investigation indicates that salicylate-C¹⁴ can localize in cartilage, both articular and costal, and that this concentration in the costal cartilage is decreased markedly by hydrocortisone treatment.