MAMMOGENIC EFFECTS OF METHANDROSTENOLONE IN CASTRATED RATS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Methandrostenolone (17β-hydroxy-17α-methyl-androsta-1,4-dien-3-one) was injected in 4 dose-levels (0.05, 0.5, 2.5 and 5.0 mg daily for 28 days) into castrated male rats, and the response of the mammary glands, the seminal vesicles and the levator ani muscle studied. One dose-level (2.5 mg daily for 28 days) was injected into castrated female rats, and the response of the mammary glands, the vagina and the uterus studied. The main results were as follows: The 0.05 mg dose did not stimulate the seminal vesicles but produced a slight weight increase of the levator ani muscle. The 0.5 mg dose had only a minimal effect on the seminal vesicles but had a much more pronounced effect on the levator ani muscle. The 2 higher doses, however, markedly stimulated both the seminal vesicles and the levator ani muscle. In the mammary glands methandrostenolone produced not only lobule-alveolar development, as do most other androgens, but in addition induced growth and development of the mammary duct system, as found with oestrogenic compounds. The lobule-alveolar development, found after treatment with the various dose-levels of methandrostenolone, quantitatively, more closely followed the growth of the levator ani muscle than the development of the seminal vesicles. In the castrated female rats methandrostenolone stimulated vaginal opening, brought about slight cornification of the vaginal epithelium and caused a marked weight increase of the uterus. These effects cannot be explained solely on the basis of the androgenic activity of this compound, but seem to indicate that methandrostenolone has an oestrogenic activity when injected into castrated rats.