Percutaneous absorption of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in man. I. Plasma androgen and gonadotrophin levels in normal adult men after percutaneous administration of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone.
The distribution of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone to the blood following application of a solution of this androgen to the skin in a hydro-alcoholic gel was studied in order to evaluate the adequacy of the percutaneous route in correcting androgen deficiencies. In 14 adult men, daily percutaneous administration of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (125 mg in 5 g gel) increases, on the average, 4 to 5 times its initial concentration in plasma. On the 14th day of treatment, repeated evaluations of plasma 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, between 2 and 21 h after final administration of gel, demonstrated the stability of diurnal 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone levels and showed the regular distribution of the steroid from a presumably cutaneous reservoir. Plasma 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol levels evolve parallel to those of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Plasma testosterone and luteinizing hormone, on the contrary, decrease considerably. No variation of follicle-stimulating-hormone is observed during treatment. The percutaneous absorption represents an interesting method for administration of a natural androgen in men, particularly because one avoids the deleterious effects of supra-physiological levels in the liver achieved with oral administration.
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000097:blood; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D006062:Gonadotropins; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone