THE EFFECT OF CERTAIN ANDROGENIC STEROIDS ON THE UPTAKE OF RADIOSULPHUR IN A HEALING FRACTURED BONE IN THE RAT
The uptake of radiosulphur in the fractured and intact humerus of male rats was determined in normal and in castrated animals and the ratio F/I of radioactivity of fractured (F) to intact (I) bone was calculated. Castration resulted in a significant decrease of F/I ratio, as compared with normal control rats.The effect of testosterone propionate and 17-ethyl-19 nortestosterone (Nilevar) on the S35 uptake in bones was studied. Testosterone administration resulted in a slight increase of the F/I in castrated rats, but had no effect on this ratio in intact animals. Both castrated and intact rats treated with Nilevar exhibited a significant rise of S35 uptake in fractured bones and, consequently, high F/I ratios. It is suggested that Nilevar has a marked effect on the synthesis of chondroitin sulphate in the collagen tissues of healing fractures, as measured by the described S35 uptake technique.