[Characteristics of the androgenic function of steroid-producing glands of baboons in the metapyrone test].

Experiments on adult and prepubertal male baboons were made to study and compare the androgenic function of the steroid-producing glands of monkeys in the metopyrone test. The content of the steroid compounds, testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, delta 4-androstendione and dehydroepiandrosterone in the monkey blood was measured by radioimmunoassays. The content of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in the blood of monkeys of both age groups did not undergo any significant changes throughout the whole experiment, whereas the content of testosterone and delta 4-androstendione rose to a greater degree in the blood of prepubertal animals. The concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone in the blood of prepubertal monkeys remained significantly elevated, even 3 days after the metopyrone administration. The reasons for age-associated differences in the hormonal response of the steroid-producing glands of baboons to metopyrone administration are discussed.