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A brief history of testosterone
E R Freeman1, D A Bloom, E J McGuire
1Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Purpose:
We explore the history of testosterone in the context of medical and scientific developments.
Materials And Methods:
A review of the scientific and historical literature was conducted.
Results:
The origins and effects of testosterone have been recognized throughout the history of humankind. Hunter performed testicular transplantation experiments in 1767 while studying tissue transplantation techniques, and almost a century later Berthold linked the physiological and behavioral changes of castration to a substance secreted by the testes. Brown-Séquard gave birth to the field of organotherapy in 1889 when he announced that his auto-injection of testicular extracts resulted in rejuvenated physical and mental abilities. Steinach and Niehans expanded upon Brown-Séquard's work with rejuvenation treatments involving vasoligation, tissue grafts and cellular injections. In 1935 David et al isolated the critical ingredient in organotherapeutic treatments, testosterone.
Conclusions:
The effects of the powerful hormone testosterone continue to inspire research and controversy 65 years later.