Effect of single-dose ketoconazole on ovarian steroids

The effect of the antifungal agent, ketoconazole, on rat ovarian concentration of progestins and androgens was investigated. A single oral dose of 20 mg/kg on the morning of proestrus resulted 3h later in a significant decrease. Control values at this time for progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone were 1173, 53, 40 and 2.5 ng/100 mg tissue respectively. In ketoconazole treated rats, the corresponding concentrations were 837, 34, 23 and 0.7 ng/100 mg tissue respectively. At a dose of 5 mg/kg ketoconazole, the concentrations of these steroids tended to be lower but the differences from control were not statistically significant.