EFFECT OF ADRENOCORTICAL STEROIDS ON ANDROGEN EXCRETION BY ADRENALECTOMIZED ORCHIDECTOMIZED MEN*

Abstract

The urinary excretion of androgens by 2 elderly orchidecto-mized patients with prostatic cancer was detd. by bioassay (chick comb method) before and after adrenalectomy and during oral admn. of glucocorticoids. The already low level was further reduced following adrenalectomy during periods of no therapy except for small doses of ethinyl estradiol and desoxycorti-costerone acetate. Maintenance doses of cortisone (25 to 50 mg. daily) were administered without significant increase in androgen excretion but not to the level prior to adrenalectomy, and even 300 mg. daily resulted in only slightly higher values. At 300 mg. daily, corticosterone was less and hydro cortisone was considerably more effective than cortisone in increasing urinary androgens.