Effect of Anabolic Hormones and Ferric Dextran upon the Progeria-Like Syndrome Produced by Dihydrotachysterol

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Abstract
The "progeria- like syndrome", induced in the rat by chronic intoxication with dihydrotachysterol (DHT), can be inhibited by various prophylactic treatments. Ferric dextran (Fe-Dex) suppresses the arterial calcification more than the bone lesions while the reverse is true of methyltestosterone. Yet, both these compounds can offer virtually complete protection against the entire syndrome of DHT intoxication if they are administered at sufficiently high dose levels. In the event of combined treatment with small doses, the anti-DHT effects of methyltestosterone plus Fe-Dex are summated. If somatotrophic hormone (STH) and Fe-Dex are given to DHT-treated rats in doses of equal anticatabolic potency, the former fails to equate the other anti-DHT actions of the latter. It is concluded that various prophylactic agents can influence the DHT-induced progeria-like syndrome through different mechanisms and that the best inhibition is obtained by combined treatment with methyltestosterone and Fe-Dex.