The Absorption of Subcutaneously Implanted Testosterone Propionate from the Ear of the Sheep

Abstract

Consequent to the treatment of wethers for ovine posthitis with subcutaneous implants of testosterone propionate, increases in both fieece weight and live weight were observed (Southcott 1962). The possibility that these increases were not merely the result of better health led to studies on the metabolism of testosterone-treated wethers. These studies demonstrated the need to define the rate of absorption of testosterone from the implant, and particularly the length of time over which the implant was capable of maintaining blood concentrations of testosterone at physiological levels.