This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Anderson, R. A. Articles by Baird, D. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Anderson, R. A. Articles by Baird, D. T.

7-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone Maintains Sexual Behavior and Mood in Hypogonadal Men¹

Medical Research Council Reproductive Biology Unit, Center for Reproductive Biology (R.A.A.), Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 9ET; the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh (C.W.M., D.E., D.T.B.), Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 9ET; the Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong (A.W.C.K., T.C.P., K.C.B.T.), Hong Kong; The Kinsey Institute (J.B.), Bloomington, Indiana 47405; and The Population Council, Center for Biomedical Research (K.S., A.J.M.-Y.), New York, New York 10017

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. R. A. Anderson, Medical Research Council, Reproductive Biology Unit, Center for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh, 37 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh, Scotland EH3 9ET. E-mail: r.a.anderson{at}ed-rbu.mrc.ac.uk

The synthetic steroid 7-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENT) is a potent androgen that is resistant to 5-reductase. It thus has decreased activity at the prostate and may have advantages over testosterone-based regimens in long term treatment or as part of a male contraceptive. Administration to eugonadal men results in suppression of gonadotropins, but its ability to support androgen-dependent behavior has not been investigated. For sustained release administration, MENT acetate was used, because its diffusion characteristics were more suitable for use in implants. However, upon release the acetate is rapidly hydrolyzed, and MENT is the biologically active moiety in circulation. We studied the effects of MENT on sexual interest and activity, spontaneous erection, and mood states in comparison with testosterone enanthate (TE) in 20 Caucasian and Chinese hypogonadal men recruited in Edinburgh and Hong Kong (n = 10 in each center). Outcomes were measured using a combination of daily diaries, semistructured interviews, and questionnaires. Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) was also recorded in the Edinburgh group. After withdrawal of androgen replacement treatment (wash-out phase) for a minimum of 6 weeks, subjects were randomized to two groups in a cross-over design. Drug treatment regimens were of 6-week duration and consisted of two implants, each containing 115 mg MENT acetate, inserted sc into the upper arm and removed after 6 weeks and two injections of TE (200 mg, im) 3 weeks apart. MENT treatment resulted in stable plasma MENT concentrations of 1.4 ± 0.1 nmol/L after 3 weeks and 1.3 ± 0.1 nmol/L after 6 weeks (mean ± SEM; all men). Nadir testosterone concentrations were 3.6 ± 0.6 nmol/L at the end of the wash-out phase and 9.4 ± 0.6 nmol/L 3 weeks after each injection. There were no differences in hormone concentrations between centers. There were no adverse toxicological effects.

There were only minor differences between the two treatments. Both MENT and TE treatment resulted in significant increases in sexual interest and activity, spontaneous erection (both by self-report and NPT measurement), and increases in positive moods, with decreases in negative moods in the Edinburgh group. In the Hong Kong group, both treatments increased waking erection, with a trend toward increased sexual interest and activity. Mood states appeared to be less affected during the wash-out phase than in Edinburgh men and showed no significant response to either treatment. These results demonstrate that MENT has similar effects on sexual activity and mood states as testosterone in hypogonadal men. As NPT is a physiological androgen-dependant outcome, these data provide further evidence for the androgenicity of MENT. The lack of detected effect of either androgen in Hong Kong men other than on waking erection illustrates the importance of the cultural context of symptomatology and its measurement. The appropriate dose of MENT remains to be determined, but these results support its development as a potential androgen replacement therapy.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Walton, N. Kumar, D. T. Baird, H. Ludlow, and R. A. Anderson 7{alpha}-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone (MENT) vs Testosterone in Combination With Etonogestrel Implants for Spermatogenic Suppression in Healthy Men J Androl, September 1, 2007; 28(5): 679 - 688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G.-R. Chen, R.-S. Ge, H. Lin, L. Dong, C. M. Sottas, and M. P. Hardy Development of a cryopreservation protocol for Leydig cells Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2007; 22(8): 2160 - 2168. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R.-S. Wang, S. Yeh, L.-M. Chen, H.-Y. Lin, C. Zhang, J. Ni, C.-C. Wu, P. A. di Sant'Agnese, K. L. deMesy-Bentley, C.-R. Tzeng, et al. Androgen Receptor in Sertoli Cell Is Essential for Germ Cell Nursery and Junctional Complex Formation in Mouse Testes Endocrinology, December 1, 2006; 147(12): 5624 - 5633. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J Bancroft The endocrinology of sexual arousal J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2005; 186(3): 411 - 427. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. D. Seftel, R. J. Mack, A. R. Secrest, and T. M. Smith Restorative Increases in Serum Testosterone Levels Are Significantly Correlated to Improvements in Sexual Functioning J Androl, November 1, 2004; 25(6): 963 - 972. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. B. O'Connor, J. Archer, and F. C. W. Wu Effects of Testosterone on Mood, Aggression, and Sexual Behavior in Young Men: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2004; 89(6): 2837 - 2845. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Chang, Y.-T. Chen, S.-D. Yeh, Q. Xu, R.-S. Wang, F. Guillou, H. Lardy, and S. Yeh Infertility with defective spermatogenesis and hypotestosteronemia in male mice lacking the androgen receptor in Sertoli cells PNAS, May 4, 2004; 101(18): 6876 - 6881. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Raivio, L. Dunkel, S. Wickman, and O. A. Janne Serum Androgen Bioactivity in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study of Boys with Constitutional Delay of Puberty J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2004; 89(3): 1188 - 1192. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. De Rosa, S. Zarrilli, G. Vitale, C. Di Somma, F. Orio, L. Tauchmanova', G. Lombardi, and A. Colao Six Months of Treatment with Cabergoline Restores Sexual Potency in Hyperprolactinemic Males: An Open Longitudinal Study Monitoring Nocturnal Penile Tumescence J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2004; 89(2): 621 - 625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. von Eckardstein, G. Noe, V. Brache, E. Nieschlag, H. Croxatto, F. Alvarez, A. Moo-Young, I. Sivin, N. Kumar, M. Small, et al. A Clinical Trial of 7{alpha}-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone Implants for Possible Use as a Long-Acting Contraceptive for Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2003; 88(11): 5232 - 5239. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. K. Lee, N. Berman, G. M. Alexander, L. Hull, R. S. Swerdloff, and C. Wang A Simple Self-Report Diary for Assessing Psychosexual Function in Hypogonadal Men J Androl, September 1, 2003; 24(5): 688 - 698. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Anderson, A. M. Wallace, N. Sattar, N. Kumar, and K. Sundaram Evidence for Tissue Selectivity of the Synthetic Androgen 7{alpha}-Methyl-19-Nortestosterone in Hypogonadal Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2003; 88(6): 2784 - 2793. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Anderson and D. T. Baird Male Contraception Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2002; 23(6): 735 - 762. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Raivio, J. S. Tapanainen, P. Kunelius, and O. A. Janne Serum Androgen Bioactivity During 5{alpha}-Dihydrotestosterone Treatment in Elderly Men J Androl, November 1, 2002; 23(6): 919 - 921. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Anderson, D. Kinniburgh, and D. T. Baird Suppression of Spermatogenesis by Etonogestrel Implants with Depot Testosterone: Potential for Long-Acting Male Contraception J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2002; 87(8): 3640 - 3649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Kinniburgh, H. Zhu, L. Cheng, A.T. Kicman, D.T. Baird, and R.A. Anderson Oral desogestrel with testosterone pellets induces consistent suppression of spermatogenesis to azoospermia in both Caucasian and Chinese men Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2002; 17(6): 1490 - 1501. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Wang and R. S. Swerdloff Should the Nonaromatizable Androgen Dihydrotestosterone Be Considered as an Alternative to Testosterone in the Treatment of the Andropause? J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2002; 87(4): 1462 - 1466. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Matsumoto Andropause: Clinical Implications of the Decline in Serum Testosterone Levels With Aging in Men J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., February 1, 2002; 57(2): M76 - 99. [Full Text]

				A. Vermeulen Androgen Replacement Therapy in the Aging Male--A Critical Evaluation J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2001; 86(6): 2380 - 2390. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Wang, R. S. Swerdloff, A. Iranmanesh, A. Dobs, P. J. Snyder, G. Cunningham, A. M. Matsumoto, T. Weber, and N. Berman the Testosterone Gel Study Group Transdermal Testosterone Gel Improves Sexual Function, Mood, Muscle Strength, and Body Composition Parameters in Hypogonadal Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2000; 85(8): 2839 - 2853. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. W. Martin, S. C. Riley, D. Everington, N. P. Groome, R. A. Riemersma, D. T. Baird, and R. A. Anderson Dose-finding study of oral desogestrel with testosterone pellets for suppression of the pituitary-testicular axis in normal men Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2000; 15(7): 1515 - 1524. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]