Adrenochrome and the water-soluble sodium 1-methyl-5-semicarbazono-6-oxo-2, 3, 5, 6-terahydoindole-3-sulfonate trihydrate (AC-17) show antihyaluronidase activity but the insoluble adrenochrome monosemicarbazone (ACS) does not. While adrenochrome inhibits glycolysis, ACS and AC-17 do not, and AC-17 also does not affect the amount of liver glycogen. It seems, therefore, that adrenochrome cannot carry out its biochemical functions unless liberated. Both adrenochrome and ACS do not fluctuate the amount of adrenal ascorbic acid and in this respect, they do not seem to have any ACTH-like activity. The fact that the adrenochrome derivatives, irrespective of their solubility in water, are known to have very weak toxicity from their LD50, and activities on respiration, blood pressure, and on excised intestines.
