[The action of cortifen and corticosterone on the thymocyte nucleoid of mice in vivo and in vitro].

The effect of therapeutic doses of a hormonal cytostatic cortifen and corticosterone on supramolecular DNA structures of mice thymocyte nucleoid was studied. Capillary elastoviscometry showed that in vivo damage to supramolecular DNA complex structure there was a difference already two hours after injection of these agents. After 24 hours the damaging effects on nucleoid were markedly higher. The role of the hormone and alkylating group of cortifen in the cytotoxic action of antitumor agents is discussed.