Influence of corticotrophin on plasma testosterone in normal women

Abstract

Abstract. The concentrations of ACTH and testosterone (T) in the plasma from 12 normal women (aged 18–35 years) were simultaneously determined at various times after im injection of 1 mg corticotrophin. The increase in the plasma level of total immunoreactive ACTH was maximal 0.5 h after the injection (mean value 1123 as compared to 36 pg/ml in the basal state); at 48 h, the ACTH level was still 2.4-fold that measured in the basal state. The administration of corticotrophin induced a broad increase in the mean level of plasma T which was highly significant (P < 0.001) at 4, 6, 8, 16 and 24 h after the injection. The maximum T response was detected at 16 h (mean value 477 as compared to 338 pg/ml in the basal state). The results indicate that plasma T is susceptible to stimulation by a pharmacological dose of ACTH in normal women. This effect should be taken into account in evaluating the indication of ACTH as a therapeutic agent.