Chemistry:Mestanolone

Short description: Chemical compound

Mestanolone

Clinical data
Trade names	Androstalone, Ermalone, others
Other names	RU-143; Methylandrostanolone; Methyldihydrotestosterone; Methyl-DHT; 17α-Methyl-4,5α-dihydrotestosterone; 17α-Methyl-DHT; 17α-Methyl-5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one;
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
Pregnancy category	US: X (Contraindicated)
Routes of administration	By mouth
Drug class	Androgen; Anabolic steroid
ATC code	None
Legal status
Legal status	US: Schedule III
Pharmacokinetic data
Metabolism	Liver
Excretion	Urine
Identifiers
IUPAC name (5S,8R,9S,10S,13S,14S,17S)-17-hydroxy-10,13,17-trimethyl-2,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one
CAS Number	521-11-9 N
PubChem CID	10633
ChemSpider	10187 Y
UNII	S712YZ168E
KEGG	D01533 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL261514 Y
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C20H32O2
Molar mass	304.474 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES O=C2C[C@@H]1CC[C@@H]3[C@@H]([C@@]1(C)CC2)CC[C@]4([C@H]3CC[C@@]4(O)C)C
InChI InChI=1S/C20H32O2/c1-18-9-6-14(21)12-13(18)4-5-15-16(18)7-10-19(2)17(15)8-11-20(19,3)22/h13,15-17,22H,4-12H2,1-3H3/t13-,15+,16-,17-,18-,19-,20-/m0/s1 Y Key:WYZDXEKUWRCKOB-YDSAWKJFSA-N Y
NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Mestanolone, also known as methylandrostanolone and sold under the brand names Androstalone and Ermalone among others, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication which is mostly no longer used. It is still available for use in Japan however. It is taken by mouth.

Side effects of mestanolone include symptoms of masculinization like acne, increased hair growth, voice changes, and increased sexual desire. It can also cause liver damage. The drug is a synthetic androgen and anabolic steroid and hence is an agonist of the androgen receptor (AR), the biological target of androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It has strong androgenic effects and weak anabolic effects, which make it useful for producing masculine psychological and behavioral effects. The drug has no estrogenic effects.

Mestanolone was discovered in 1935 and was introduced for medical use in the 1950s. In addition to its medical use, mestanolone has been used to improve physique and performance. It was used in East Germany in Olympic athletes as part of a state-sponsored doping program in the 1970s and 1980s. The drug is a controlled substance in many countries and so non-medical use is generally illicit.

Medical uses

Available forms

Mestanolone was available in the form of 25 mg sublingual tablets (brand name Ermalone).

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Mestanolone is an AAS, with both androgenic and anabolic effects. It is very similar in its effects to androstanolone (dihydrotestosterone; DHT), and can be thought of as an orally active version of this AAS. Due to inactivation by 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD) in skeletal muscle, mestanolone is described as a very poor anabolic agent, similarly to androstanolone and mesterolone. As mestanolone is 5α-reduced, it cannot be aromatized and hence has no propensity for estrogenic side effects such as gynecomastia. The drug also has no progestogenic activity. Like other 17α-alkylated AAS, mestanolone is hepatotoxic.

Pharmacokinetics

Due to its C17α methyl group, unlike androstanolone, mestanolone is orally active.

Chemistry

Mestanolone, also known as 17α-methyl-4,5α-dihydrotestosterone (17α-methyl-DHT) or as 17α-methyl-5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one, is a synthetic androstane steroid and a 17α-alkylated derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It differs from DHT only by the presence of the methyl group at the C17α position. Close synthetic relatives of mestanolone include oxandrolone (2-oxa-17α-methyl-DHT), oxymetholone (2-hydroxymethylene-17α-methyl-DHT), and stanozolol (a derivative of 17α-methyl-DHT (mestanolone) with a pyrazole ring fused to the A ring).

Side effects

Side effects of mestanolone include virilization and hepatotoxicity among others.

History

Mestanolone was first synthesized in 1935 along with methyltestosterone and methandriol. It was developed by Roussel in the 1950s and was introduced for medical use, under the brand names Androstalone and Ermalone, by at least 1960. It was marketed in Germany . The drug was originally thought to be a potent anabolic agent, but subsequent research showed that it actually has relatively weak anabolic effects and is mostly an androgen. Mestanolone was used as a doping agent in athletes competing in the Olympics from East Germany due to a state-sponsored doping program in the 1970s and 1980s. Its value is said to have been less as a muscle-builder and more as an androgen in the central nervous system and neuromuscular interaction, improving speed, strength, aggression, focus, endurance, and stress resilience. Today, mestanolone has mostly been discontinued in medicine, though it is still available in Japan .

Society and culture

Generic names

Mestanolone is the generic name of the drug and its INN, BAN, and JAN.

Brand names

Mestanolone was marketed under the brand names Andoron, Androstalone, Ermalone, Mesanolon, and Notandron among many others.

Availability

Mestanolone has mostly been discontinued but remains available in Japan .

References

{{Navbox

| name = Androgens and antiandrogens
| title = Androgens and antiandrogens
| state = collapsed
| listclass = hlist
| groupstyle = text-align:center;

| group1 = Androgens
(incl. AAS)

| list1 =

AR agonists

Testosterone derivatives: Androstenediol dipropionate Boldenone undecylenate Clostebol Clostebol acetate Clostebol caproate Clostebol propionate Cloxotestosterone acetate Prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA) Prasterone enanthate (DHEA enanthate) Prasterone sulfate (DHEA sulfate) Quinbolone Testosterone# Testosterone esters (e.g., testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate]], testosterone propionate]], testosterone undecanoate]], testosterone ester mixture]]s (Deposterona, Omnadren, Sustanon, Testoviron Depot)) Dihydrotestosterone derivatives: Androstanolone (stanolone, dihydrotestosterone, DHT) Androstanolone esters Bolazine capronate Drostanolone propionate (dromostanolone propionate) Epitiostanol Mepitiostane Mesterolone Metenolone acetate (methenolone acetate) Metenolone enanthate (methenolone enanthate) Stenbolone acetate 19-Nortestosterone derivatives: Bolandiol dipropionate Nandrolone esters (e.g., nandrolone decanoate, nandrolone phenylpropionate) Norclostebol Norclostebol acetate Oxabolone cipionate (oxabolone cypionate) Trenbolone acetate Trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonate (trenbolone cyclohexylmethylcarbonate) 17α-Alkylated testosterone derivatives: Bolasterone Calusterone Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (CDMT) Fluoxymesterone Formebolone Metandienone (methandienone, methandrostenolone) Methandriol (methylandrostenediol) Methandriol bisenanthoyl acetate Methandriol dipropionate Methandriol propionate Methyltestosterone Methyltestosterone 3-hexyl ether Oxymesterone Penmesterol Tiomesterone (thiomesterone) 17α-Alkylated dihydrotestosterone derivatives: Androisoxazole Furazabol Mebolazine (dimethazine) Mestanolone Oxandrolone Oxymetholone Stanozolol 17α-Alkylated 19-nortestosterone derivatives: Ethylestrenol Mibolerone Norethandrolone Normethandrone (methylestrenolone, normethisterone) Propetandrol (propethandrol) 17α-Vinyltestosterone derivatives: Norvinisterone (vinylnortestosterone) 17α-Ethynyltestosterone derivatives: Danazol Gestrinone Progestins (e.g., ethisterone (ethynyltestosterone), levonorgestrel, norgestrel, norethisterone (norethindrone), [[Chemistry:Lynestrlynestrenol, Norgestrienone|norgestrienone]]) Tibolone Progesterone derivatives: Medroxyprogesterone acetate

Progonadotropins

Antiestrogens (e.g., tamoxifen, Chemistry:Clomifene

| group2 = Antiandrogens
| list2 = {{Navbox|child
| groupstyle = text-align:center;
| groupwidth = 9em;

  | group1 = AR antagonists
  | list1 =

• Steroidal: Abiraterone acetate
• Canrenone
• Chlormadinone acetate
• Cyproterone acetate
• Delmadinone acetate
• Dienogest
• Drospirenone
• Medrogestone
• Megestrol acetate
• Nomegestrol acetate
• Osaterone acetate
• Oxendolone
• Potassium canrenoate
• Spironolactone

• Nonsteroidal: Apalutamide
• Bicalutamide
• Cimetidine
• Darolutamide
• Enzalutamide
• Flutamide
• Ketoconazole
• Nilutamide
• Seviteronel^†
• Topilutamide (fluridil)

  | group2 = Steroidogenesis
inhibitors

| list2 =

5α-Reductase	Alfatradiol Dutasteride Epristeride Finasteride Saw palmetto extract
Others	Abiraterone acetate Aminoglutethimide Bifluranol Cyproterone acetate Flutamide Ketoconazole Nilutamide Seviteronel† Spironolactone

  | group3 = Antigonadotropins
  | list3 =

• D₂ receptor antagonists (prolactin releasers) (e.g., domperidone, metoclopramide, risperidone, haloperidol, chlorpromazine, sulpiride)
• Estrogens (e.g., bifluranol, [[diethylstilbestrol, estradiol, estradiol esters, ethinylestradiol, ethinylestradiol sulfonate, paroxypropione)
• GnRH agonists (e.g., leuprorelin)
• GnRH antagonists (e.g., cetrorelix)
• Progestogens (incl., chlormadinone acetate, [[cyproterone acetate, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, gestonorone caproate, [[Chemistry:Medroxyprogesterone medroxyprogesterone acetate, Chemistry:Megestrol acetate|megestrol acetate]])

  | group4 = Others
  | list4 =

• Androstenedione immunogens: Androvax (androstenedione albumin)
• Ovandrotone albumin (Fecundin)

}}

| liststyle = background:#DDDDFF;

| list3 =

• ^#WHO-EM
• ^‡Withdrawn from market
• Clinical trials:
  • ^†Phase III
  • ^§Never to phase III

See also

Androgen receptor modulators

Estrogens and antiestrogens

Progestogens and antiprogestogens

List of androgens/anabolic steroids

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