Topical canrenoic acid. Quantification of the antiandrogenic activity in the hamster flank organ

The topical antiandrogenic activity of potassium canrenoate (CAK), compared with that of spironolactone (SP), was assayed in vivo in female golden Syrian hamsters whose flank organs were stimulated by subcutaneous administration of testosterone propionate. Sebaceous glands and hair were measured by a computerized image analyzer. Pigmented spots, sebaceous gland areas, and the diameter of hairs of the treated flank organs were smaller in the groups that received CAK (1.6 mg/day) and SP (0.4 mg/day). The authors' results showed that CAK may act as a topical antiandrogen on the hamster flank organ when applied in concentrations four times greater than the minimal active dosage of SP. Potassium canrenoate may be a useful weak topical antiandrogen, and it could be used in androgen-related skin disorders involving both sebaceous glands and hair, especially in men. These concentrations could be verified by additional clinical investigations.