[Role of the adrenal glands in the cytostatic action mechanism of antitumor antibiotics].

The state of the steroidogenic function of the adrenal glands, lipid spectrum of the adrenal gland tissue and metabolism rate of 11-oxycorticosteroids (11-OCS) in the liver tissue and their levels in the blood plasma were studied on rats after a single administration of karminomycin in a dose of LD50 (1.55 mg/kg). The hormones of the adrenal cortex were shown to play a definite role in the mechanism of the karminomycin damaging effect. Dependence of the changes on the time of the drug effect was noted. The shifts were of a reversible character. No direct toxic damages in the tissue of the adrenal glands were observed. Only an increase in the 11-OCS blood levels and a decrease in the steroid metabolism in the liver tissue were shown. The latter must be due to the direct cytotoxic effect of karminomycin on the tissue of this organ.