Androgen analogues

Anabolic steroids are compounds that promote muscle growth by mimicking the tissue-building effect of testosterone. Many synthetic androgen analogues have been created that are even more potent than testosterone, including stanozolol, nandrolone, and methandrostenolone. 

Oxymetholone is an anabolic steroid and it is similar in structure to nandrolone (a synthetic androgen analogue) ... 

Extracts of corpora lutea were known ia the early tweatieth ceatury to inhibit ovulatioa ia animals. Pure progesterone (3), the active component of the extracts, was isolated ia 1934 and its stmcture reported (15). Several problems limited its use and drove efforts to develop progesterone analogues, ie, it was available only ia small quantities from animal sources, was not orally active, and was discovered to cause androgenic side effects. 

Elocalcitol (BXL-628) is the fluoro analogue of the D3 metabolite that inhibits the growth factors involved in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) it is without direct androgenic effects and does not cause hypercalcemia. It is in Phase 11 development for the treatment of BPH and overactive bladder (cf. Chapter 4). " ... 

The androgen testosterone is made in the testis and directs developmental maturation of male sex characteristics and normal function of male sex organs. Anabolic—androgenic steroid analogue drugs have been developed for increasing muscle mass. 

Prostatic cancer is androgen-dependent and metastatic disease can be helped by orchidectomy, or by a gonadorelin analogue, e.g. buserelin, goserelin, leuprorelin or triptorelin. These cause a transient stimulation of luteinising hormone and thus testosterone release, before inhibition occurs some patients may experience exacerbation of tumour effects, e.g. bone pain, spinal cord compression. Where this can be anticipated, prior orchidectomy or antiandrogen treatment, e.g. with cyproterone or flutamide, is protective. 

Selectivity. Many synthetic analogues, although classed as, e.g. androgen, anabolic steroid, progestogen, are nonselective and bind to several types of receptor as agonist, partial agonist, antagonist. 

Spironolactone (p. 534) also has antiandrogen activity and may help hirsutism in women. Androgen secretion may be diminished by continued use of a gonadorelin (LH-RH) analogue (see p. 714). 

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