Relative Potency of Various Steroids in an Anabolic-Androgenic Assay Using the Castrated Rat1

Abstract

Twenty-two steroids administered by subcutaneous injection were studied in an androgenic-anabolic assay using the castrated immature rat and the end-points seminal vesicles, ventral prostate and levator ani. Changes in the activities of the testosterone, 17α-methyltestosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone and δ²-(5α)-androsten-17β-ol molecules by the addition of various functional groups are described and discussed. A parallel study of 8 steroids is described, using essentially the same test except that the compounds were administered by gavage. Changes in the activities of 17α-methyltestosterone and in the Δ²-(5α)-androsten- 17β-ol molecule by the addition of various functional groups are described and discussed.