[Concentration of free fatty acids in muscle following administration of corticotropin and hydrocortisone].

Experiments were conducted on rats; the gas chromatographic method was applied to the study of the free fatty acids content in the gastrocnemius 30 minutes after the intraperitoneal injection of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)--1 Unit per 100 g and hydrocortisone acetate--1 mg per 100 gm of body weight. It was shown that in the resting muscles ACTH increased the content of stearic acid, whereas hydrocortisone--of both stearic oleic acids. The changes in the content of other free fatty acids were insignificant. During the short-term activity the content of stearic acid in the regimen of single rhythmic contractions in the gastrocnemius of intact rats increased. In experiments with ACTH and hydrocortisone this elevation was much less and not significant. ACTH and hydrocortisone stimulated the stearic acid consumption by the muscles during the activity.