Hypocholesteremic Effect of 17 α-Methyltestosterone in Dogs

Abstract

It has been confirmed that the oral administration of 17 α-methyltestosterone lowers the serum cholesterol concentrations of dogs fed a stock diet containing 3 Gm. of fat and 22 mg. of cholesterol per 100 Gm. The elevated serum cholesterol levels of cholesterol-fed euthyroid dogs, and of hypothyroid dogs fed a high fat diet, were significantly lowered by the oral administration of 17 α-methyltestosterone. The hypocholesteremic effect of 17 α-methyltestosterone was also observed in dogs maintained on a high fat-low cholesterol diet, but not on the same high fat diet supplemented with 1.5 per cent cholesterol. When 17 α-methyltestosterone was given by intramuscular injection in the same dosage as used for oral administration, the hypocholesteremic effect was more rapid and pronounced than that seen following oral administration; 17 α-methyltestosterone consistently lowered the cholesterol content of the α-lipoprotein fraction. Its effect on the β-fraction depended upon the composition of the diet.