Glucocorticoid-induced alteration of beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase response of epidermis.

It has been reported that the beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase system of the pig epidermis is regulated by glucocorticoids, resulting in the augmentation of epinephrine-induced cyclic-AMP accumulations. Using this phenomenon, we compared the glucocorticoidal potency of three typical glucocorticoids: hydrocortisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone. There was a considerable variation in the magnitude of the glucocorticoid-induced augmentation of the beta-adrenergic response when pig skin that had been obtained on different occasions was used. In each experimental series (using the same pig skin), however, the maximal augmentation effects obtained with these glucocorticoids were approximately the same. The potent glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, demonstrated its effect at lower concentrations than were required for prednisolone, while hydrocortisone required a much higher concentration before its effect was detectable. Thus, despite considerable variations in the magnitude of the glucocorticoid effects, the concentrations required for the glucocorticoid effect were closely associated with the established glucocorticoidal potency which has previously been described.