Abstract

Subcutaneous administration of several 19-nortestosterone derivatives produced an increased hepatic microsomal metabolism of hexobarbital and decreased zoxazolamine prostration time in mice. Testosterone and methyltestosterone produced an increased hexobarbital sleep time and testosterone decreased the rate of hepatic microsomal metabolism of hexobarbital. Although the ability of norethandrolone and SK & F 6612 (4-chloro-17α-methyl-19-nortestosterone) to shorten hexobarbital sleep time occurs within 6 to 12 hr after a single dose in mice, this effect of testosterone derivatives in rats occurs only after prolonged treatment.