The researchers studied how plasma corticosterone and cortisol levels change in normal men after receiving ACTH or dexamethasone. They found that corticosterone increased more than cortisol after ACTH injection, leading to a higher corticosterone/cortisol ratio. In contrast, dexamethasone more effectively suppressed cortisol levels compared to corticosterone, resulting in a higher corticosterone/cortisol ratio. These findings suggest that different hormones respond differently to these treatments in the body.