Anabolic agents in kidney disease: the effect of formebolone on protein synthesis in patients with renal insufficiency or nephrosis.

The anabolic activity of formebolone was studied in 7 patients with nephrosis or renal insufficiency by measuring the amount of 14C-leucine incorporated into plasma proteins as an index of protein synthesis. The data demonstrate that the incorporation of label into the plasma albumin fraction was significantly increased after formebolone administration.

Effect of a once weekly oral contraceptive upon gonadotrophin and gonadal steroid levels.

PIP: A moderately effective oral progestogen contraceptive, R-2323 (13beta-ethyl-17alpha-ethynyl-17-hydroxy-gona-4,9,11-trien,3-one), was administered weekly in doses of 2.5 mg and 5 mg to 5 subjects each for 8 weeks. In 2 of the 10 treatment cycles of 2.5 mg and 4 of the 10 treatment cycles of 5 mg, progesterone levels indicative of anovulation were obtained. In each of these cycles, an absence of the midcycle luteinizing hormone (LH) peak was noted. In an additional 5 cycles with absence of an LH peak, ovulatory steroid patterns were present. The remaining 9 cycles showed gonadotropin and steroid patterns consistent with ovulation. It is concluded that the main contraceptive mechanism is probably other than inhibition of ovulation. Increased viscosity of the cervical mucus is considered a possible means of contraception.^ieng

Effective erythropoiesis induced by 5beta-pregnane-3beta-hydroxy-20-one in squirrel monkeys.

The erythropoietic effect of 5beta-pregnane-3beta-hydroxy-20-one, a naturally occurring steroid metabolite of progesterone, was evaluated in the squirrel monkey by ferrokinetic studies. red cell survival, and blood volume measurements. The intramuscular administration of this steroid in pharmacologic doses shortened the (59)Fe plasma clearance and increased the plasma iron turnover, thereby indicating an increase in erythropoiesis. A normal (59)Fe red cell uptake was observed, and the bone marrow maturation time was not altered. Red cell survival was the same in the treated and control groups. After five weekly injections of the steroid, the monkeys increased their red cell mass by 57%. A significant increase in white blood cells and a slight elevation of platelet counts in the treated monkeys also suggest a possible direct stimulation of hemopoietic stem cells by the steroid metabolite. These observations indicate that some steroid metabolites can stimulate an early increase in iron turnover (within 48 h) that is not secondary to hemolysis. The increased red cell mass indicates effective erythropoiesis in primates.