The effects of corticosteroids and pancreatic hormones on two mitochondrial enzymes of ureagenesis, carbamyl phosphate synthetase-I (CPS-I) and ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), were investigated and compared in fetal rat liver. Supplementing hydrocortisone acetate (50 μg) to 18.5-day-old fetuses significantly increased CPS-I activity (by 36%) and decreased OTC activity (by 23%). An actinomycin D supply (2 μg) to 18.5-day-old fetuses prematurely increased OTC activity and decreased fetal insulin level (by 42%). This treatment had no effect on CPS-I activity. Glucagon supply (25 μg) during the late fetal period increased both activities within 2 h, while dibutyryl-cAMP enhanced OTC activity 17 h later. These results suggested that the fetal development of CPS-I activity was under the control of corticosteroids and glucagon. In contrast, corticosteroid hormones produced an inhibitory effect on OTC activity. This might be explained by the permissive effect of corticosteroids on insulin action, since insulin might act as a repressor in utero of enzyme development. Thus, the paradoxical effect of actinomycin D on OTC activity was probably due to the decrease in fetal insulinemia.

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