The Effect of Intravenous Testosterone on Nitrogen and Electrolyte Metabolism*

THE anabolic effects of testosterone have been studied in some detail in both man and experimental animals since the original demonstration by Kochakian (1, 2, 3) that testosterone caused nitrogen retention in castrated dogs. This anabolic effect was subsequently observed in both eunuchoid and normal men by Kenyon and his coworkers (4, 5). The latter investigators also observed a retention of potassium, sodium, inorganic phosphorus, sulfate, and chloride during testosterone therapy. Because of its extremely poor solubility in aqueous solutions, testosterone was administered intramuscularly in oil in these studies. Bischoff's demonstration (6) of the high solubility of testosterone in serum albumin suggested the possibility of administering large amounts of testosterone dissolved in human serum albumin solution in a single intravenous dose. The present investigation was undertaken to determine whether testosterone in this form would have any effect on nitrogen and electrolyte metabolism in normal men. Four normal men were used in these studies. A constant diet of known nitrogen and electrolyte content was given daily throughout each of the respective experiments.