Levels of adrenodoxin, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochromes P-45011 beta, P-45021, P-450scc, in adrenal zona fasciculata-reticularis tissue from androgen-treated rats.

Treatment of rats with methylandrostenediol (MAD), an anabolic androgen, caused a profound reduction (65%) in the level of cytochrome P-450 11 beta in rat adrenocortical mitochondria as measured by immunoblots using a specific antibody. The decreases in mitochondrial cytochrome P-450scc (15%) and adrenodoxin (20%) were much less than that observed for cytochrome P-45011 beta. A 35% decrease in adrenal microsomal cytochrome P-450 21 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase levels was brought about by the treatment with MAD. The data establish that the preferential decrease in adrenal steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase activity associated with androgen treatment results from a decrease in cytochrome P-450 11 beta. This is consistent with the role of 11-deoxycorticosterone in the pathogenesis of androgen-induced hypertension in rats.

Effect of prolonged administration of anabolic and androgenic steroids on reproductive function in the mare.

Administration to mares of the anabolic steroid, methandriol, at the maximum recommended dose (300 mg every 3 weeks) for 1 1/2 years had no effect on reproductive characteristics except for suppression of GnRH-induced LH release and a tendency to suppress basal LH levels and the height of the ovulatory LH surge. A 4-fold increase in dosage caused marked suppression of basal LH, the LH surge, and GnRH-induced LH release. Other reproductive responses were minimally affected. There were no behavioural effects, and no changes in weight occurred when mares were compared with matched controls. Small and moderate doses of testosterone induced behavioural changes without affecting reproductive function. However, large doses, which raised plasma testosterone to levels similar to those of stallions, eventually caused total suppression of all reproductive activity within 1 month and the development of markedly vicious stallion-like behaviour. Apart from the aggression all changes disappeared within 1 month after the end of treatment.

Morphological and enzymological changes of small intestine of adult female rats and youngs born from madiol-treated pregnant rats.

Some histological and histoenzymological changes of the small intestine of adult female Wistar rats treated with Madiol were studied. The steroid did not influence the tissular aspect, but obviously stimulatory effects on protein and enzyme reactions were induced. Similar Madiol-action on the small intestine of 21-day-old young rats was observed when the steroid was administered during pregnancy to their mothers, suggesting influences on the embryonic development.

Histoenzymological and biochemical changes in the liver of adult female rats and of youngs born from Madiol-treated pregnant rats.

The effect of a 30-day treatment with Madiol was studied on the activity of some enzymes, nucleic acids, protein and glycogen content of the liver of adult female rats and youngs born from mothers treated during pregnancy. Madiol caused a significant increase in SDH and Atp-ase activity, and decreased glycogen and acid phosphatase.

Metabolic effects of anabolic steroid on skeletal muscle.

The purposes of this investigation were to examine the effects of anabolic steroid treatment on protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and on steroid receptors. The experiments were conducted with 230 male albino rats maintained on a diet containing 20% protein. Anabolic steroids (methandrostenolone, methylandrostendiole, and Retabolil) were injected in doses of 0.5 mg/kg body weight. The animals were examined at rest and after swimming exercise of 15 min duration. Quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscle were used for analysis in all experiments. Protein synthesis was studied by means of 14C-leucine incorporation. It was found that anabolic steroid treatment resulted in an increased content of skeletal muscle protein: myosin, myofibrillar, and sarcoplasmic fractions. The activity of RNA-polymerase in skeletal muscle nuclei was increased. The results indicated that in skeletal muscle there were androgen receptors which were binding sites for 3H-testosterone and anabolic steroids. A model for the anabolic steroid action on the regulation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle was proposed.

[Quantitative evaluation of the dose-response relationship after intramuscular administration of testosterone and its esters]. / Kolichestvennaia otsenka zavisimosti doza-effekt pri vnutrimyshechnom vvedenii testosterona i ego efirov.

Experiments were conducted on rats. A study was made of the reaction of target organs to the intramuscular injection of androgenic preparations--testosterone and its esters (acetate, propionate, phenylpropionate, isocapronate, enantate and caprinate) comparison with anabolic methylandrostendiol. An equation is presented for mathematical description of the dependence of the androgenic effect on the dose of the praparations injected, used in a wide range of doses. The equation coefficients proved to have a definite physiological sense.

[Anabolic activity of some dicyclopentanone derivatives]. / Ob anabolicheskoi aktivnosti nekotorykh proizvodnykh ditsiklopentanona

Anabolic activity of 1,5-bis(1-carbethoxy-2-oxocyclopentyl-1) pentane in a dose of 1 mg per 100 g of body weight manifests itself in an accelerated growth of the animals, increased weight of m. levator ani and also in a rise of the protein level in the blood and the skeletal muscle. Because of the absence of androgenic properties in the substance under consideration its anabolic coefficient is twice as high by comparison with methylandrostendiol. Following hypophysectomy there could be observed a certain decline in the anabolic activity of 1,5-bis(1-carbethoxy-2-oxocyclopentyl-1)pentane.

Effect of anabolic steroids on plasma antithrombin III. alpha2 macroglobulin and alpha1 antitrypsin levels.

The effect of seven different anabolic steroids (Ethyloestrenol, Methenolone acetate, Norethandrolone, Methylandrostenediol, Oxymetholone, Methandienone, and Stanozolol) on three alpha-globulin antiprotease inhibitors of thrombin and plasmin was studied in men with ischaemic heart disease. In distinct contrast to the oral contraceptives, five of the six 17-alpha-alkylated anabolic steroids studied produced increased plasma Antithrombin III levels and five produced decreased levels of plasma alpha2-macroglobulin. The effect on plasma alpha1-antitrypsin levels was less clear-cut but three of the steroids examined produced significantly elevated levels. The increased plasma fibrinolytic activity which the 17-alpha-alkylated anabolic steroids induce is therefore unlikely to be secondary to disseminated intravascular coagulation.

ACTH accelerates the formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles in the adrenal cortex of androgen-treated rats.

The effect of simultaneous injections of ACTH and methylandrostenediol (MAD), a synthetic androgen, has been studied in the rat. ACTH accelerated the production of cytoplasmic vacuoles by MAD in as much as no such structures were observed in MAD-treated animals at 4 weeks. Adrenal weight was decreased in MAD-treated animals but restored to that of controls by ACTH (MAD plus ACTH group). ACTH by itself did not, however, cause the production of any vacuolar structures nor did it cause any reparation in the number of mitochondrial cristae which were considerably reduced in numbers after MAD plus ACTH.