11-Dehydrocorticosterone (Synonyms: 11-DHC, DHCS, Kendall's Compound A, NSC 9702)

11-Dehydrocorticosterone is an endogenous mineralocorticoid.^1,2,3 It increases Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase mRNA expression in vascular smooth muscle cells and inhibits aldosterone action in B. marinus toad bladder tissue in a concentration-dependent manner.^1,2 11-Dehydrocorticosterone decreases the sodium/creatine ratio and increases the potassium/creatine ratio in rat urine in a dose-dependent manner in a model of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibition induced by carbenoxolone .³ Chronic administration 11-dehydrocorticosterone increases plasma glucocorticoids levels, body weight gain, and adiposity, as well as induces insulin resistance in mice.⁴

1.Muto, S., Nemoto, J., Ebata, S., et al.Corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone stimulate Na,K-ATPase gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cellsKidney Int.54(2)492-508(1998) 2.Brem, A.S., Matheson, K.L., Barnes, J.L., et al.11-Dehydrocorticosterone, a glucocorticoid metabolite, inhibits aldosterone action in toad bladderAm. J. Physiol.261(5)F873-F879(1991) 3.Souness, G.W., and Morris, D.J.11-Dehydrocorticosterone in the presence of carbenoxolone is a more potent sodium retainer than corticosteroneSteroids58(1)24-28(1993) 4.Harno, E., Cottrell, E.C., Keevil, B.G., et al.11-Dehydrocorticosterone causes metabolic syndrome, which is prevented when 11β-HSD1 is knocked out in livers of male miceEndocrinology154(10)3599-3609(2013)