Testosterone, silyl derivatives

This behaviour was observed with testosteroxy-trimethylsilane (lb) in biological experiments33. The androgenic and myotropic activities of testosterone (la) and its silyl derivative lb were estimated by a routine assay (21-day-old castrated male rats s.c. injection once a day for 7 days autopsies the day after the last injection). The silyl compound lb was more active than testosterone itself. This observation may reflect rapid transport of the silicon compound across the lipid barrier and rapid cleavage to testosterone. 

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