Metabolism and mode of action of androgens in target tissues of male rats. V. Uptake and metabolism of cyproterone acetate and its influence on the uptake and metabolism of testosterone and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone in target organs and peripheral tissues.

In order to get more information on the mode of action of anti-androgens, two series with low but biologically active doses of cyproterone acetate were started. In the first experiments 12 mug of [3H]cyproterone acetate was injected intravenously into adult rats castrated 3 days before treatment. Thirty min after injection the radioactivity uptake in the target organs and other tissues was measured. The metabolites were separated by thin layer chromatography. A large pool of radioactivity could be shown in the liver. Thin layer chromatography revealed that in this pool cyproterone acetate had been converted by more than 80% to one metabolite. In blood plasma, too, the metabolite accounted for the major part of radioactivity. When compared to skeletal muscle, the prostate, seminal vesicles, and m. bulbocavernosus and m. levator ani accumulated more radioactivity. Within 30 min unchanged cyproterone acetate was retained selectively thus showing its relative high affinity to target organs. In a second experimental series, adult castrated male rats were given 10 mug of cyproterone acetate intravenously 30 min before the injection of [3H]testosterone or [3H]5alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Under this condition androgen uptake in target tissues was reduced to about 70% of the control values. The data parallel the results of in vivo studies on cytosol receptor displacement of androgens by cyproterone acetate. In agreement with previous investigators no significant influence of the anti-androgen on androgen metabolism was observed. The importance of the findings concerning the mode of anti-androgen action is discussed.