THE EFFECTS OF ETHINYLANDROSTENEDIOL 3-CYCLOHEXYLPROPIONATE ON THE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT OF MALE AND FEMALE RATS

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Abstract
ARECENT report from this laboratory (1) indicated that the biological activity of 17α-ethinyl-Δ5-androstene-3β,17β-diol was predominantly estrogenic in nature and that esterification of the 3-hydroxyl group resulted in a change of the ratio of uterine growth stimulating (UGSt) to testicular growth suppressing (TGSp) activities. The smaller molecular weight esters (1 to 4 carbons) were considerably more estrogenic than the parent alcohol whereas the ability to suppress the growth of immature rat testes was affected only slightly. In contrast, the UGSt potency of several of the high molecular weight esters was greatly reduced without proportionate decrease in testicular growth suppressing activities. This report presents data from a variety of experiments designed to establish the activity profile of one of the high molecular weight esters, 17α-ethinyl-Δ5-androstene-3β, 17β-diol 3-cyclohexylpropionate (hereafter referred to as ethandrostate), with special reference to its effects on the reproductive system of the male and female rat. The relative estrogenic, androgenic and gonad suppressing activities of this steroid are described and appropriate comparisons have been made with the behavior of several chemically different phenolic estrogens in terms of relative estrogenicity and pituitary inhibition as manifested by changes induced in the gonads and sex accessory organs.