Influence of 6 alpha-methylprednisolone 21-sodium succinate on the pituitary, adrenal glands, and the gastrointestinal tract in rats. (Comparative toxicity study with hydrocortisone 21-sodium succinate).

A comparative toxicity study with 6 alpha-methylprednisolone 21-sodium succinate (MPS) and hydrocortisone 21-sodium succinate (HCS) was carried out on male rats of the Wistar strain. MPS and HCS were administered intravenously to rats in dose levels of 20 or 100 mg/kg/day for 14 days. There were no significant differences in the pituitary weights in MPS and HCS groups, but weight of the adrenal glands decreased with increasing dose levels of MPS and HCS. Histopathological examination of MPS and HCS treated rats revealed atrophy of the zona fasiculata in the adrenal cortex which correlated with dose levels. The decline of serum corticosterone levels in rats correlated with increasing dose levels of MPS and HCS. It can be concluded that the inhibitory effect of MPS on the pituitary-adrenal system in rats was the same as HCS. No ulceration was observed in the gastro-intestinal tract of MPS of HCS treated rats.