PLASMA-CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS IN DOGS GIVEN CORTISONE OR PLACEBO BY MOUTH

Fasted normal dogs (n=8) were given fixed doses of cortisone acetate o rally as 5 mg and 25 mg tablets; plasma cortisol concentrations were d etermined, and C(max), t(max) and area under the curve of plasma corti sol concentration plotted against time from zero to 12 hours were comp ared for the two preparations. In addition, these variables were compa red when 25 mg tablets were administered with and without food. No sig nificant difference in cortisol availability was noted for the two pre parations and feeding did not apparently affect cortisone absorption. The findings in two hypoadrenocorticoid dogs were similar. Plasma cort isol concentrations in placebo-treated dogs similarly sampled showed m inor fluctuations and were generally within accepted reference limits for normal dogs.