The effect of prolonged administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to young male Papyo hamadryas on the subsequent course of sexual maturation was studied. Blood levels of testosterone, hydrocortisone, corticosterone, and 11-deoxyhydrocortisone were radioimmunoassayed over the course. of DHEA administration and after it. No appreciable changes in the said steroid compounds were observed during DHEA administration and soon after it. One year after DHEA administration, when the animals were

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... n the pubertal stage, they had higher testosterone levels in the blood and a statistically higher mass in comparison with age-matched control monkeys. The most marked differences in testosterone levels were observed 2 years after DHEA administration, when the animals grew adult. Their testosterone levels surpassed the normal value by 4.7 times. The authors consider the effect of physiologic doses of DHEA the gonadal hormonal function from the "neurosteroid" concept viewpoint.