The influence of 17 alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone on the endocrine function of the adrenal cortex.

Abstract

ABSTRACT In two male patients and two castrated males, the influence of corticotrophin (ACTH) on the urinary excretion of neutral 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids was determined before and during a period in which patients were treated with 5 mg 17α-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MNT) daily. In two castrated males, moreover, the influence of chorionic gonadotrophin and ACTH + chorionic gonadotrophin on the urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids was determined before and during a period of treatment with 5 mg MNT daily. Prolonged administration of MNT causes a decrease in the urinary excretion of neutral 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids both in the normal males and in the male castrates. ACTH caused an increase in the urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids before and during MNT administration. During MNT administration this increase (expressed in mg/24 hours) was ≤ the increase produced by the same dose of ACTH prior to MNT administration. In two male castrates treated with MNT, chorionic gonadotrophin caused no increase in the urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. The effect obtained before and during MNT administration by administration of ACTH + chorionic gonadotrophin did not exceed the effect obtained by the same dose of ACTH alone. Our conclusion is that the effect of MNT on the excretion of adrenocortical steroids is not due to the inhibition of the ACTH secretion. The possibility of a direct effect of MNT on the adrenal cortex has not been excluded with complete certainty. A change in the corticosteroid metabolism due to the influence of MNT, however, must also be taken into consideration.