Effect of adrenalectomy, sham operation or ACTH on the cortisol metabolizing enzymes of rat liver homogenate

ACTH has a direct effect on the metabolism of cortisol by liver homogenate of female rats; this effect differs from the effect of stress. Sham operations cause an increase in the formation of cortisone and allotetrahydrocortisol and inhibits the production of 20-hydroxy metabolites. ACTH in vivo in sham-operated rats and in vitro in homogenates of normal rat liver favors the formation of cortisone while depressing that of tetrahydrocortisol. In addition ACTH in vitro also decreases allotetrahydrocortisol production.