THE EFFECTS OF SPECIES, STRAIN AND SEX IN THYMOLYTIC TESTS OF BETAMETHASONE, DEXAMETHASONE AND OTHER STEROIDS

Abstract

SUMMARY Cortisol, prednisolone phosphate and the free alcohols and 21-phosphates of betamethasone and dexamethasone have been compared for thymolytic activity by the oral and subcutaneous routes in both sexes of two strains of rats and two strains of mice. The relative potency of betamethasone and dexamethasone differed with the route of administration and the sex, strain and species of animal employed. In female mice of the A2G strain, betamethasone was as potent as dexamethasone; in male mice of this strain, and in both sexes of GFF mice, WAG rats and PVG rats, betamethasone was much less potent than dexamethasone.