THE EFFECT OF DERIVATIVES OF DITHIOCARBAMOYLHYDRAZINE ON HORMONE EXCRETION IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Abstract

SUMMARY Estimations of human pituitary gonadotrophins (HPG), total 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, total 17-oxosteroids and oestrogens have been performed in seven hospitalized postmenopausal subjects receiving treatment with the dithiocarbamoylhydrazine derivatives Compound 22365 and Compound 33828 (Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.). Both compounds were shown to be inhibitors of pituitary gonadotrophic function as indicated by urinary HPG assays; Compound 33828 was more active in this respect than Compound 22365. When Compound 22365 was administered to individual subjects at two different dose levels the time taken for urinary HPG levels to return to pretreatment values was longer in the case of the higher dose. Neither of the compounds studied produced any effect on adrenocortical function as judged by urinary assays of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, 17-oxosteroids and oestrogens. Side effects were noted in two of the seven patients studied. In one subject with pre-existing liver damage it was necessary to stop treatment with Compound 22365 because of the development of mild jaundice.