ACTIONS OF CORTICOSTEROIDS ON MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDE AND PROTEIN METABOLISM OF FIBROBLAST MONOLAYER CULTURES

The effect of corticosteroids on mucopolysaccharide metabolism and protein metabolism of fibroblast monolayer cultures (prepared out of murine embryonic cartilage tissue) was studied. All corticosteroids tested caused an inhibition of mucopolysaccharide metabolism. The most active compound was prednisolone followed by cortisol, prednisone and cortisone. In no instance was a stimulating effect on mucopolysaccharide metabolism observed. With high steroid concentrations basic cellular metabolic activities, such as protein synthesis or desoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, were depressed. The influence on mucopolysaccharide metabolism, however, was already present in drug concentrations which did not exert such effects. The results further indicate that the depressory action of corticosteroids on mucopolysaccharide metabolism cannot be due solely to an inhibition of sulfate incorporation into mucopolysaccharides because the type of cell cultures used in these investigations produces mainly non-sulfated mucopolysaccharides. © 1969 S. Karger AG, Basel.