Effect of Steroids and Related Compounds on the Growth of Dermatophytes

Abstract

IT has been suggested that steroid hormones may influence the course of a dermatophyte infection indirectly either by decreased resistance as during cortisone therapy¹ or at puberty in Microsporum infections^2,3; a more direct fungistatic action is suggested by reports of in vitro inhibition by steroids or related compounds^4–8. That steroids may have a direct effect upon growth and metabolism of fungi was particularly suggested by work with Neurospora crassa⁹. Since the skin is a site of appreciable steroid synthesis and its metabolism is known to be affected by a number of steroid hormones it seemed that unsolved problems of susceptibility to dermatophyte infection, development of chronic infections by some individuals and the localization of infection in the epidermis or hair root may be explicable in terms of direct or indirect action of steroids upon the fungi.