Metabolic clearance rate and blood production rate of testosterone and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione under basal conditions, ACTH and HCG stimulation. Comparison with urinary production rate of testosterone.

Abstract

Metabolic clearance rate, plasma concentration and blood production rate of testosterone and androstenedione, interconversion between blood testosterone and blood androstenedione, and urinary testosterone production rate have been studied in 2 normal adult male subjects under basal conditions, ACTH and HCG stimulation, and in 2 normal adult female subjects under basal conditions and ACTH stimulation. Under basal conditions blood testosterone production rate was 6.4 and 5.5 mg/day, blood androstenedione production rate 2.1 and 2.1 mg/day and urinary testosterone production rate 7.6 and 4.3 mg/day in the 2 male subjects; in the 2 female subjects these values were 0.37 and 0.27 mg/day, 2.7 and 3.6 mg/day and 0.8 and 0.9 mg/day, respectively. Under ACTH stimulation blood testosterone production rate decreased in the 2 male subjects and plasma testosterone concentration also decreased in 6 normal males studied. On the other hand, blood production rate of testosterone in females and of androstenedione in males ...