A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE METABOLIC EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE IN NORMAL MEN AND WOMEN AND IN EUNUCHOIDISM1,2

Abstract

In confirmation of previous studies, intramusc. injs. of 25 mg. of testosterone propionate, daily or twice daily, in a eunuchoid, produced reduction in the urinary excretion of N, Na, K and Cl, together with a gain in wt., due largely to water held in association with the salts and protein retained. A considerable reduction in the urinary excretion of inorganic P accompanied that of the other constituents. During recovery Na, Cl and water were rapidly lost from the body, inorganic P and K less rapidly and less completely, while N stored was retained in great part for wks. 2 normal young [male][male] responded like the eunuchoids, except that the 0.03 g. of N retained per kg. per day, during the period of maximal effect, was half that of the eunuchoids. 1 normal young [female] responded essentially as the eunuchoids and the normal [male][male]. The 2d normal [female] showed a definite reduction in the urinary excretion of inorganic P but otherwise distinctly less evidence of a testosterone propionate effect. The reasons for the differences between these [female][female] are not clear. The concs. of urea and N.P.N. of the blood were definitely reduced by such treatment, while those of Hb, plasma proteins, and serum Na, K and Cl were unaffected. Inorganic P conc. in the serum was doubtfully reduced. The reductions in urinary electrolyte excretion, studied in the eunuchoid, were unaccompanied by important changes in urinary ammonia. pH, bicarbonate, or conc. of titratable acid. Creatine excretion, in the eunuchoid, intensified by ingestion of creatine, was substantially reduced by the androgen and increased during a recovery. Percut. adm. of 25 and 50 mg. daily of testosterone itself in an ointment, in the eunuchoid, produced diminution in the urinary excretion of N. The B.M.R., fasting R.Q., pulse rate and blood pressure of the normal subjects were not conspicuously affected by testosterone propionate. The B.M.R. of the eunuchoid was probably slightly increased; the pulse rate and blood pressure were unaffected. The 102.7 to 252.2 g. of protein estimated as retained by these subjects is not accounted for by increase in the bulk of genital tissues and represents deposit of new material elsewhere in the body. This together with the reduction in the urinary excretion of inorganic P, K and creatine points to a somatotropic influence of andro-gens, and provides a clue to the explanation of unusual body growth accompanying precocious puberty.