Abstract. Some endocrinological effects of single daily oral administration of 150 mg ketoconazole for 15 days were investigated in 4 male beagle dogs. Plasma testosterone fell markedly within 3–4 h and then progressively returned to control concentrations by 10 h after drug administration. On the other hand, plasma 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone and 17α,20α-dihydroxyprogesterone increased within 3–10 h before returning to basal values after 24 h.
Plasma LH did not rise significantly though some high individual levels were noted. Plasma cortisol and oestradiol-17α levels were not significantly modified by the treatment.
These results confirm that a high therapeutic dose of ketoconazole, given orally once a day, transiently inhibits in vivo the 17–20 lyase enzyme of the testis, without modifying basal cortisol and oestradiol-17β plasma concentrations and that enzymatic inhibition still occurs after daily treatment for up to 2 weeks but remains transient and parallels the resorption profile of the drug so that normal plasma testosterone levels are observed from 10 to 24 h after drug intake. However, permanent inhibition of androgen biosynthesis might be obtained by the administration of high doses of ketoconazole given several times a day.
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