Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Effects of Adrenocortical Steroids and of Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone on (Na+-K+)-ATPase in Immature Cerebral Cortex

Pediatric Research volume 12, pages 104–107 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

Summary: The effect of cortisol, niethylprednisolone, and ACTH on (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity in developing cerebral cortex has been measured. Stimulation of (Na+-K+)-ATPase by these agents has been found in whole brain homogenates of kittens as early as age 8 days, and in whole homogenates and light microsomal fractions of young rats at 14 and 28 days. (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity in animals treated with corticosteroids or ACTH for 4 days was found to be 15–30% higher than activity in littermate controls. Brain potassium concentration was increased in 14-day-old rats treated with methylprednisolone.

Speculation: Corticosteroid hormones and ACTH are effective in the treatment of seizures in infancy, especially in patients with infantile spasms and hypsarrhythmia. Stimulation of (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity by these hormones provides a plausible mechanism for the anticonvulsant effect.

Download PDF

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

    Peter R Huttenlocher & Ikuko M Amemiya

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Peter R Huttenlocher & Ikuko M Amemiya

Authors
  1. Peter R Huttenlocher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ikuko M Amemiya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huttenlocher, P., Amemiya, I. Effects of Adrenocortical Steroids and of Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone on (Na+-K+)-ATPase in Immature Cerebral Cortex. Pediatr Res 12, 104–107 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197802000-00008

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197802000-00008

Keywords

  • Adenosine triphosphatase
  • cerebral cortex
  • corticosteroid hormones
  • potassium
  • sodium

Further reading

Search

Advanced search

Quick links