Effect of cyproterone acetate and its metabolites on the adrenal function in man, rhesus monkey and rat

The effect of oral administration of 17 alpha-acetoxy-6-chloro-1,2 alpha-methylene-4,6]pregnadiene-3,20-dione (cyproterone acetate, Androcur) on the adrenal function in male hypersexual subjects and in female rhesus monkey was investigated on the basis of cortisol and ACTH levels in serum or plasma and excretion of cortisol and 17-ketosteroids. In addition, cyproterone acetate and its main metabolite alcohol of the main metabolite were characterized for treatment of male hypersexual subjects and female rhesus monkeys did not reveal any signs of adrenal suppression. Cyproterone acetate and its metabolites gave on indication of any appreciable anti-inflammatory effect in the adjuvant edema test in rats. However, there was a general increase in the level of blood glucose and liver glycogen as well as a reduction in body weight and organ weight (spleen, thymus and adrenal) in rats, in which 15 beta-hydroxy cyproterone was slightly more active with the exception of adrenal weight tests. It can be concluded that adult man and rhesus monkey are much less sensitive, is so at all, to some corticosteroid-like activities of cyproterone acetate and its main metabolites than the rat.