Henry H. Turner

STUDIES COMPARING THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN TESTOSTERONE ESTERS IN MAN

This is a brief preliminary report of an investigation which will be published in detail when it is completed. The study was initiated for two immediate purposes: 1) to compare in man the relative activity of certain testosterone esters in terms of the duration and the amount of their protein-anabolic and urinary 17-ketosteroid-augmenting properties; and 2) to provide a basis upon which to select the most suitable compound for the prolonged induction of these metabolic manifestations in man. In addition, this investigation has two long-range objectives: 1) to determine whether these testosterone esters and certain of their metabolic properties exhibit a dose-response relationship in the human ; and 2) to create a background of observations against which new potential therapeutic agents may be evaluated for these metabolic properties. Testosterone induces in man anabolism of protoplasm as indicated by retention of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur in the proportions that exist in protoRlasm during metabolic balance studies (1, 2). This steroid is metabolized and excreted as urinary 17-ketosteroid compounds, with exogenous testosterone adding an increment to the metabolites that arise from endogenous sources of the hormone (3).