Effects of testosterone metabolites and of anabolic androgens on the bone marrow and thymus in castrated female mice

Effects of metabolites of testosterone and of anabolic androgens on bone marrow and thymus of ovariectomized mice were studied. Steroids contained in capsules made of silastic tubing were implanted on the day of castration or were injected at the day of castration (Noralone and T.P.), lymphatic organs were examined two weeks later. It was found that testosterone, 5α-DHT, 3α-diol, Dianabole, T.P., and Noralone caused increases in the relative number of large cells and in activity of 20αSDH in bone marrow. Concomitantly, these steroids caused a marked reduction in thymus cell number and an increase in the responsiveness of the thymus cells to Con A and PHA. The steroid 3β-diol increased marrow cell 20αSDH activity but did not affect the thymus cell number. Other steroids tested, Ad-dione 3α or 3β-androsterone, 5β-DHT, epitestosterone, and progesterone had no effect on thymus or bone marrow.