metyrapone
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metyrapone
[mĕ-tēr´ah-pōn] a synthetic compound that selectively inhibits an enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of corticosteroids; it is used as a diagnostic aid in a test of pituitary reserve.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
me·tyr·a·pone
(mĕ-tir'ă-pōn),An inhibitor of adrenocortical steroid C-11 β-hydroxylation, administered orally or intravenously to determine the ability of the pituitary gland to increase its secretion of corticotropin; because 11-deoxycorticosteroids, as a consequence of metyrapone administration, only weakly inhibit pituitary corticotropin secretion, the normal pituitary gland will appreciably increase its output of this hormone.
Synonym(s): mepyrapone
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
metyrapone
An agent used to evaluate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, especially abnormal pituitary activity. Metyrapone inhibits 11-beta-hydroxylase, the final enzyme in cortisol synthesis. The inhibition results in accumulation of 11-deoxycortisol in the adrenal cortex, resulting in decreased negative feedback of ACTH synthesis by the pituitary; it therefore also results in increased ACTH and increased 11-deoxycortisol, as well as its metabolite, tetrahydrocortisol, which is measured in the urine as so-called Porter-Silber compounds.Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
metyrapone
A diagnostic tool for evaluating the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal 'axis', especially, abnormal pituitary activityMcGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
metyrapone
An ALDOSTERONE inhibitor drug used to treat aldosterone-induced OEDEMA and CUSHING'S syndrome. A brand name is Metopirone.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005