EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE ON BODY WEIGHT AND URINARY NITROGEN EXCRETION OF NORMAL AND HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RATS1

IN A PKEVTOUS paper (Simpson, Marx, Becks and Evans 1943) it was suggested that the well-known effect of testosterone propionate on body weight might be mediated through the pituitary. This hypothesis was supported by the failure of testosterone propionate to produce a significant increase in body weight and skeletal dimensions in hypophysectomized, young, male rats. On the other hand, Leonard (1943) reported partial maintenance of weight in hypophysectomized male rats when he injected 10-12 mg. of testosterone over a 10-day period, whereas the controls lost weight. Tyslowitz (1943) has also noted acceleration of growth in hypophysectomized rats. Kochakian (1943) induced nitrogen retention in an hypophysectomized, castrated dog with 25 mg. of testosterone propionate per day.