THE INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS ANDROGENIC STEROIDS ON NITROGEN BALANCE AND GROWTH1

Abstract

IT HAS been demonstrated by a number of workers (1, 3–5, 7, 8, 10–14, 20, 21) that testosterone propionate causes a retention of nitrogen and other tissue-building elements in human beings, thus confirming older observations of Kochakian (15) on castrate dogs. Methyl testosterone administered orally has similar effects (6, 13, 20, 22, 24). The anabolic effects of the androgens have been reviewed comprehensively by Kenyon, Knowlton and Sandiford (9). When a patient is given a constant nitrogen intake, the administration of testosterone propionate or methyl testosterone causes a decrease in the urinary nitrogen and no appreciable change in fecal nitrogen, so that increased amounts of nitrogen are retained. Inorganic phosphorus and sulphur in the urine are similarly affected by testosterone propionate. Phosphorus is retained approximately in the ratio to nitrogen of 1:10. The ratio of nitrogen to sulphur estimated as retained often approximates the normal proportion of these elements in body protein.