Anabolic steroids: Permissive agents of acth-induced penile erections in rats

Two anabolic steroids at a dose which is not virilizing for the peripheral target organs, restore the responsiveness of castrated male rats to the sexual stimulant effect of intraliquorally injected ACTH suggests protein synthesis is essential for male sexual drive.

Abstract

Abstract Two anabolic steroids, (norbolethone and 4-Cl-testosterone) at a dose which is not virilizing for the peripheral target organs, restore the responsiveness of castrated male rats to the sexual stimulant effect of intraliquorally injected ACTH. So, it is suggested that protein synthesis is essential for male sexual drive, the nervous centers involved being even more sensitive to the anabolic activity of testosterone and related steroids than the sex accessory organs. This suggestion is strenghtened by the fact that cycloheximide-pretreatment prevents the sexual effect of ACTH.