Trestolone

Overview

Trestolone, also known as 7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENT), is an experimental androgen/anabolic steroid (AAS) and progestogen medication which has been under development for potential use as a form of hormonal birth control for men and in androgen replacement therapy for low testosterone levels in men but has never been marketed for medical use. It is given as an implant that is placed into fat. As trestolone acetate, an androgen ester and prodrug of trestolone, the medication can also be given by injection into muscle.[1–5] WP

Side effects Trestolone is an AAS, and hence is an agonist of the androgen receptor, the biological target of androgens like testosterone. It is also a progestin, or a synthetic progestogen, and hence is an agonist of the progesterone receptor, the biological target of progestogens like progesterone. Due to its androgenic and progestogenic activity, trestolone has antigonadotropic effects. These effects result in reversible suppression of sperm production and are responsible for the contraceptive effects of trestolone in men.[3][6] WP

Trestolone was first described in 1963. Subsequently, it was not studied again until 1990. Development of trestolone for potential clinical use started by 1993 and continued thereafter. No additional development appears to have been conducted since 2013. The medication was developed by the Population Council, a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to reproductive health.[3][4][7–10] WP

Uses, dosage and effects

Medical uses

Trestolone is an experimental medication and is not currently approved for medical use. It has been under development for potential use as a male hormonal contraceptive and in androgen replacement therapy for low testosterone levels. The medication has been studied and developed for use as a subcutaneous implant. An androgen ester and prodrug of trestolone, trestolone acetate, has also been developed, for use via intramuscular injection.[1–5][9] WP

Risks and side effects

Side effects

Trestolone may cause sexual dysfunction (e.g., decreased sex drive, reduced erectile function) and decreased bone mineral density due to estrogen deficiency.[3][5][11] WP

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

As an AAS, trestolone is an agonist of the androgen receptor (AR), similarly to androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Trestolone is not a substrate for 5α-reductase and hence is not potentiated or inactivated in so-called "androgenic" tissues like the skin, hair follicles, and prostate gland. As such, it has a high ratio of anabolic to androgenic activity, similarly to other nandrolone derivatives. Trestolone is a substrate for aromatase and hence produces the estrogen 7α-methylestradiol as a metabolite. However, trestolone has only weak estrogenic activity and an amount that would appear to be insufficient for replacement purposes, as evidenced by decreased bone mineral density in men treated with it for hypogonadism. Trestolone also has potent progestogenic activity. Both the androgenic and progestogenic activity of trestolone are thought to be involved in its antigonadotropic activity.[3–6][12][13] WP⚠ A table follows this text in the source and is not copied here. Open the source to see it.

Mechanism of action

Spermatozoa are produced in the testes of males in a process called spermatogenesis. In order to render a man infertile, a hormone-based male contraceptive method must stop spermatogenesis by interrupting the release of gonadotropins from the pituitary gland. Even in low concentrations, trestolone is a potent inhibitor of the release of the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). In order for spermatogenesis to occur in the testes, both FSH and testosterone must be present. By inhibiting release of FSH, trestolone creates an endocrine environment in which conditions for spermatogenesis are not ideal. Manufacture of sperm is further impaired by the suppression of LH, which in turn drastically curtails the production of testosterone. Sufficient regular doses of trestolone cause severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia, and therefore infertility, in most men. Trestolone-induced infertility has been found to be quickly reversible upon discontinuation.[3][4] WP

When LH release is inhibited, the amount of testosterone made in the testes declines dramatically. As a result of trestolone's gonadotropin-suppressing qualities, levels of serum testosterone fall sharply in men treated with sufficient amounts of the medication. Testosterone is the main hormone responsible for maintenance of male secondary sex characteristics. Normally, an inadequate testosterone level causes undesirable effects such as fatigue, loss of skeletal muscle mass, reduced libido, and weight gain. However, the androgenic and anabolic properties of trestolone largely ameliorate this problem—essentially, trestolone replaces testosterone's role as the primary male hormone in the body.[3][4] WP⚠ Part of this sentence could not be copied from the source. Open the source to read it in full.

Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetic properties of trestolone, such as poor oral bioavailability and short elimination half-life, make it unsuitable for oral administration or long-term intramuscular injection. As such, trestolone must be administered parenterally via a different and more practical route such as subcutaneous implant, transdermal patch, or topical gel. Trestolone acetate, a prodrug of trestolone, can be administered via intramuscular injection.[5][14][15] WP

History

History

Trestolone was first described in 1963. However, it was not subsequently studied again until 1990. Development of trestolone for potential use in male hormonal contraception and androgen replacement therapy was started by 1993, and continued thereafter. No additional development appears to have been conducted since 2013. Trestolone was developed by the Population Council, a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to reproductive health.[3][4][7–10][16] WP

Legal status

Generic names

Trestolone is the generic name of the drug and its INN (International Nonproprietary Name). It is also commonly known as 7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENT).[1][2][3] WP

Chemistry

Formula

C19H28O2 PC

CAS number

3764-87-2 PC

Molar mass (g/mol)

288.4 PC

IUPAC name (computed by PubChem)

(7R,8R,9S,10R,13S,14S,17S)-17-hydroxy-7,13-dimethyl-2,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one PC

SMILES

C[C@@H]1CC2=CC(=O)CC[C@@H]2[C@@H]3[C@@H]1[C@@H]4CC[C@@H]([C@]4(CC3)C)O PC

InChIKey

YSGQGNQWBLYHPE-CFUSNLFHSA-N PC

PubChem CID

9838899

Harm reduction information

No harm reduction data is on file for this compound yet. That means no dose, timing or combination data from PsychonautWiki or TripSit. Please don't guess a dose from similar compounds. If you have taken it and feel unwell, contact emergency services or a poison control center.

User reports

Pop culture

No references added yet.

Sources

1. Other J. Elks. The Dictionary of Drugs: Chemical Data: Chemical Data, Structures and Bibliographies. 14 November 2014
2. Journal / agency 7-alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone - AdisInsight
3. Journal / agency Nieschlag E, Kumar N, Sitruk-Ware R. 7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENTR): the population council's contribution to research on male contraception and treatment of hypogonadism. Contraception. 2013. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2012.08.036 · PMID 23063338
4. Journal / agency Sundaram K, Kumar N, Bardin CW. 7 alpha-methyl-nortestosterone (MENT): the optimal androgen for male contraception. Ann. Med. April 1993. doi:10.3109/07853899309164168 · PMID 8489761
5. Journal / agency Corona G, Rastrelli G, Vignozzi L, Maggi M. Emerging medication for the treatment of male hypogonadism. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs. 2012. doi:10.1517/14728214.2012.683411 · PMID 22612692
6. Journal / agency García-Becerra R, Ordaz-Rosado D, Noé G, Chávez B, Cooney AJ, Larrea F. Comparison of 7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone effectiveness alone or combined with progestins on androgen receptor mediated-transactivation. Reproduction. 2012. doi:10.1530/REP-11-0171 · PMID 22065861
7. Journal / agency Lyster SC, Duncan GW. Anabolic, androgenic and myotropic activities of derivatives of 7alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone. Acta Endocrinol. July 1963. doi:10.1530/acta.0.0430399 · PMID 13931986
8. Journal / agency Ma JB, Li ZS. Synthesis of 4-substituted 17 beta-hydroxy-7 alpha-methyl-4-estren-3-one and their 17-acetates as antifertility compounds. Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1990. PMID 2363352
9. Journal / agency Sundaram K, Kumar N, Bardin CW. 7 alpha-Methyl-19-nortestosterone: an ideal androgen for replacement therapy. Recent Prog. Horm. Res. 1994. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-571149-4.50027-1 · PMID 8146434
10. Other MENT – project information from the Population Council. link 2
11. Journal / agency Anderson RA, Wallace AM, Sattar N, Kumar N, Sundaram K. Evidence for tissue selectivity of the synthetic androgen 7 alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone in hypogonadal men. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. June 2003. doi:10.1210/jc.2002-021960 · PMID 12788888
12. Journal / agency Attardi BJ, Hild SA, Koduri S, Pham T, Pessaint L, Engbring J, Till B, Gropp D, Semon A, Reel JR. The potent synthetic androgens, dimethandrolone (7α,11β-dimethyl-19-nortestosterone) and 11β-methyl-19-nortestosterone, do not require 5α-reduction to exert their maximal androgenic effects. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. October 2010. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.06.009 · PMID 20599615 · PMC2949447
13. Journal / agency Attardi BJ, Pham TC, Radler LC, Burgenson J, Hild SA, Reel JR. Dimethandrolone (7,11β-dimethyl-19-nortestosterone) and 11β-methyl-19-nortestosterone are not converted to aromatic A-ring products in the presence of recombinant human aromatase. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. June 2008. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2007.11.009 · PMID 18555683 · PMC2575079
14. Journal / agency Attardi BJ, Hild SA, Reel JR. Dimethandrolone undecanoate: a new potent orally active androgen with progestational activity. Endocrinology. June 2006. doi:10.1210/en.2005-1524 · PMID 16497801
15. Journal / agency Suvisaari J, Sundaram K, Noé G, Kumar N, Aguillaume C, Tsong YY, Lähteenmäki P, Bardin CW. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 7alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone after intramuscular administration in healthy men. Hum. Reprod. May 1997. doi:10.1093/humrep/12.5.967 · PMID 9194649
16. Journal / agency Kumar N, Didolkar AK, Ladd A, Thau R, Monder C, Bardin CW, Sundaram K. Radioimmunoassay of 7 alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone and investigation of its pharmacokinetics in animals. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. November 1990. doi:10.1016/0960-0760(90)90405-a · PMID 2278844

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