EFFICACY OF TESTOSTERONE-FILLED POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE IMPLANTS IN MAINTAINING PLASMA TESTOSTERONE IN RABBITS

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Abstract
Summary. Experiments were designed to examine the release of testo- sterone through polydimethylsiloxane (PDS) capsules in vitro and in situ and to test the efficacy of PDS capsules in maintaining testosterone in the peripheral circulation of castrate male rabbits for several months. The results demonstrate that (1) tritiated testosterone passed through PDS capsules suspended in water, (2) the tritiated material released into water had the same chromatographic mobility as authentic testosterone when subjected to thin-layer chromatography, (3) the rate of release of testosterone into water was dependent upon capsule surface area, (4) the release of testosterone from implants in situ was dependent upon surface area but independent of implantation site (i.e. subcutaneous versus intraperitoneal implants), and (5) the release of testosterone from PDS capsules in situ remained relatively constant over a span of 3 months. Castration abolished libido and caused accessory sex organ atrophy in male rabbits, but subcutaneous placement of testosterone-filled PDS implants (430 mm2, 0\m=.\245mm thick) maintained these androgen- dependent characteristics at normal levels. The concentrations of seminal fructose, citric acid and plasma testosterone noted in castrate rabbits receiving testosterone implants in situ were virtually identical to those noted in intact rabbits receiving similar implants containing cholesterol for 3 months.

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