Suppression of cortisol by a progestational steroid, melengestrol.

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Nugent CA, Bressler R, Kayan S, Worrall P

Suppression of cortisol by a progestational steroid, melengestrol.

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1975 Sep;18(3):338-44.

PubMed ID
1100303 [ View in PubMed
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Abstract

Melengestrol, a steroid with progestational activity but with a structure that does not resemble that of cortisol, suppresses plasma cortisol in humans with a potency 1/40th that of dexamethasone. The 6alpha-methyl and 17alpha-acetoxy substituents and the 6,7 double bond of melengestrol acetate are known to slow the metabolism of similar steroids. Insertion of a 6alpha-methyl group markedly increases the glucocorticoid activity of 17alpha-OH-progesterone. The glucocorticoid activity of melengestrol is presumably attributable to the large dose administered in our study, its slow metabolism and limitations of the specificity of glucocorticoid tissue receptors.

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