[Effect of testosterone, its 5 alpha-reduced metabolites, estradiol and progesterone on the formation of an experimental duodenal ulcer in male rats].

The influence of different doses (0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, 100.0, 250.0, 1,000.0, 2,500.0 gamma/kg body weight) of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diall, 4-androsterone-3,17-dione, estradiol and progesterone on the formation of cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer was studied in mature male rats. It has been shown that all the steroids, but for progesterone, bring down the ulcer index after six days of i/p administration, the effect depending on the nature and dose of a steroid. Estradiol and 4-androstene-3,17-dione proved to be the most effective in the given dose range. The results do not only confirm the role of androgens and estradiol in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer, but also indicate the participation of their precursors and metabolites in the ulcer induction. The prospects of using steroids in the treatment of ulcer are discussed.