The Combined Effect of Cortisone Acetate and Desoxycorticosterone Acetate in Adrenal- Ectomized Rats

In a previous report the authors have described the response of young adrenalectomized rats to desoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA) and to cortisone acetate (CA) when maintained on a diet severely restricted in sodium content (1). Daily injections of 2.5 mg. of DCA resulted in progressive weight gain and maintenance of normal blood pressure, while similar doses of CA were accompanied by rapid weight loss and arterial hypertension. With both steroids terminal serum sodium values were within normal range. The present experiments describe the results obtained over a wide range of dosages of DCA 2 and CA,8 given singly and in varying combinations, and were undertaken in an attempt to determine to what extent the individual action of each steroid was modified by concomitant administration of the other.