Effects of Large Doses of Androgen on Rodent Erythropoiesis and Body Composition

Six weeks treatment of male and female mature Sprague-Dawley rats with 8 mg. testosterone enanthate per week produced varied effects depending upon the sex of the animal. Compared to controls, the androgen-treated female rats exhibited a greater gain in body weight which was predominantly water. There was concomitant renal hypertrophy and fat loss. An accelerated rate of erythropoiesis produced a gain in total red cell volume out of proportion to the accretion of lean tissue. Treated male rats gained somewhat less water and lean tissue and much less fat than controls. Definite evidence of acceleration of erythropoiesis was not observed. It is concluded that the female rat is more sensitive to the erythropoietic effects of large doses of androgen than is the male. The erythropoietic response to androgen in the female rat appears to be independent of the effects of the hormone on body composition.