Ethane physiological effects

In humans, administration of o,p -DDD [l,l-dichloro-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(2-chlorophenyl) ethane], phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, or phenylbutazone causes a marked elevation in the urinary excretion of 6 )5-hydroxycortisol presumably by accelerating the metabolism of glucocorticoids. Accordingly, treatment of animals with phenobarbital stimulates the hydroxylation by hepatic microsomes of corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, cortisone, and cortisol, whereas 3-methylcholanthrene has negligible effect on the hydroxylation of cortisone or cortisol. The physiological consequences of this induction, however, remain obscure. 

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