MUTUAL ANTAGONISM BETWEEN OESTROGENS AND ANDROGENS

Abstract
In the early stages of work with oestrogenic and androgenic extracts, much consideration was given to the question of antagonistic or synergistic action between the two. Juhn, D'Amour, and Womack [1930] found no interaction between them when given simultaneously in the form of extracts to capons, but Schoeller and Gehrke [1933] later reported a synergistic action under these conditions. However, workers using crystalline substances have been unable to confirm these results. Callow and Parkes [1935], Morató-Manaro, Albrieux, and Buño [1935], and Gley and Delor [1937] agree in finding that the response of the capon comb to various androgens is decreased by the simultaneous administration of oestrogens. Mühlbock [1938] has shown that a daily dose of 5 mg. of oestradiol benzoate will completely abolish the response of the capon comb to 100 μg. daily of androsterone, and in a recent paper Emmens [1939a] produced curves showing the progressive decrease in