COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF 17-ALPHA-METHYLTESTOSTERONE, METHANDROSTENOLONE, AND NANDROLONE DECANOATE ON THE SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR OF CASTRATED MALE-RATS

In a series of 3 experiments, adult male Long-Evans rats were castrate d and treated with 1 of 3 different anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) compounds (17 alpha-methyltestosterone, methandrostenolone, or nandrol one decanoate) for 6 weeks. In each experiment, subjects received dail y injections of a high, medium, or low dose of AAS or the oil vehicle. The ABS effects on body weight in gonadectomized male rats were modes t, and no effects on locomotor activity were observed. The AAS compoun ds administered at doses comparable with human abuse levels were not e quipotent in maintaining male sexual behavior patterns (nandrolone dec anoate > methandrostenolone > 17 alpha-methyltestosterone). In additio n, the behavioral actions of ABS compounds did not parallel stimulatio n of sexual accessory glands. The authors reported that this study is the first to quantify the dose-response characteristics of individual AAS compounds with regard to these behavioral and endocrine measures.