RELATIVE EFFECTS OF 17-ALKYLATED ANABOLIC STEROIDS ON SULFOBROMOPHTHALEIN (BSP) RETENTION IN RABBITS

¹ Endocrinology Department, Division of Biological Research, G. D. Searle and Company, Chicago, Illinois

Measurement of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) retention in rabbits was shown to be a simple laboratory test for estimating the effects of anabolic steroids on hepatic excretory function. Non-17-alkylated androgen-anabolic steroids failed to alter serum BSP levels, whereas 17-alkylated anabolic steroids caused increased BSP retention when these steroids were given orally to rabbits at 10 and 20 mg/kg of body weight daily for 4 days. The magnitude of effects on BSP retention in the rabbit varied among the various l7-alkylated steroids and did not appear to be related to myotrophic or androgenic activities, although some correlation was apparent with nitrogen-retaining activity in rats. Several published clinical reports indicated that the relative effects of 17-alkylated anabolic steroids on BSP retention in human patients were similar to those effects observed in rabbits.