Glucocorticoid inhibition of sulfate incorporation by cartilage of normal rats.

The effects of dexamethasone, cortisol, and deoxycorticosterone on sulfate incorporation by cartilage of normal rats were determined. In vivo dexamethasone was a more potent inhibitor than cortisol, and deoxycorticosterone in the dose tested was ineffective. In vitro dexamethasone and cortisol were inhibitory in concentrations of 10-8 and 10-7M, respectively, when sulfate incorporation was measured after 24 h of incubation. Dexamethasone was at least 10 times as potent as cortisol. Deoxycorticosterone was inhibitory in a concentration of 10-4M. It is concluded that inhibition of mucopolysaccharide synthesis in cartilage of normal rats by adrenal cortical steroids or their analogs, both in vivo and in vitro, is correlated with glucocorticoid activity.