THE MYOTROPHIC AND ANDROGENIC EFFECTS OF 17-ETHYL-19-NORTESTOSTERONE AND RELATED COMPOUNDS

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Abstract
Androgenic and myotrophic activities of testosterone were compared to those of nortestosterone and to derivatives of nortestosterone in which the H on the 17-C atom was replaced by methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, vinyl, or ethynyl radicals. The 19-nor compounds uniformly exhibit relatively higher myotrophic potencies in comparison to their androgenic effects as measured by response of the levator ani muscle and seminal vesicles in the castrated rat. With intramuscular administration, the minimal effective doses of 19-nortestosterone and the 17-methyl and 17-ethyl derivatives were similar. At a higher dose level of 1 mg, 17-ethyl-19-nortestosterone showed the greatest myotrophic effect. On oral administration, 17-ethyl-19-nortestosterone was more effective than 19-nortestosterone, 17-methyl-19-nortestosterone or methyl testosterone as measured by the levator ani response.