ANDROGENIC AND MYOTROPHIC PROPERTIES OF ORALLY ADMINISTERED 9-FLUORO-ll-OXY-METHYLTESTOSTERONES

Abstract

THE oral efficacy of steroid hormones and hormone-like compounds varies substantially from hormone to hormone and from species to species. Most steroid estrogens are far more effective parenterally than orally (Segaloff, 1949). Adrenocortical hormones of the 11-oxygenated type are highly effective by the oral route (Kuizenga, Nelson, and Cartland, 1940; Freyberg et al., 1950), but desoxycorticosterone is almost ineffective orally (Kuizenga, Nelson, and Cartland, 1940). Progesterone is orally active, but not nearly as potent as when given by injection (Bickers, 1949). Testosterone and its esters are not given orally in man because of low potency by this route, but methyltestosterone is orally effective (Turner, 1950).