ANTI-ANDROGENIC ACTIVITY OF A SYNETHETIC PHENANTHRENE

Abstract

A new synthetic phenanthrene derivative, 2-acetyl–7-oxo-l,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6, 7,9,10,10a-dodecahydrophenanthrene, has been found to have anti-androgenic and anti-myotrophic activity. The phenanthrene derivative antagonized the hypertrophy of the seminal vesicles, ventral prostate and levator ani muscle induced by testosterone propionate in the immature, castrated rat. When administered alone in large doses there was no significant effect on the seminal vesicle, ventral prostate or levator ani muscle of either the immature, intact or the immature, castrated rat. There was no estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity in female rats. In immature male or female rats, there was no significant change in body weight, or weights of adrenals, thymus or thyroid glands. Testosterone propionate possesses high myotrophic anabolic activity as well as high androgenic activity (Eisenberg and Gordon (1)). The myotrophic activity was measured by the increase in weight of the levator ani muscle while the androgenic activity was measured by the increase in weight of the seminal vesicle.