Abstract
Summary
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and 3α-methoxy − 17α−methyl− 5α −androstane−17α−01 (SC-12790) were studied for their anti-hypercholesterolemic and thyromimetic activities. The following findings were established: 1. DHA (5 mg/kg/d per os for 10 days) was found to be an anti-hypercholesterolemic agent which prevented increase in the serum cholesterol level (SCL) of rats made hypercholesterolemic by propylthiouracil (PTU) treatment. It was also found that the same dose of DHA given over a period of 21 days prevented an increase in SCL in rats made hypercholesterolemic by combined PTU and cholesterol feeding. DHA, however, did not reduce the SCL of normal rats. 2. SC-12790, when given under the same experimental conditions as DHA, did not reduce the SCL of hypercholesterolemic rats. 3. DHA did not produce any change in thyroid weight as did exogenous TSH and T-3. It seems that the anti-hypercholesterolemic effect of DHA cannot be explained by a thyromimetic activity. These findings are of clinical importance since DHA, which is a weak endogenous androgen, is orally active as an anti-hypercholesterolemic agent. The possible mechanism of its action is discussed.
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