Effects of cyproterone acetate on growth and feeding in rats

Cyproterone acetate (CA) inhibited ponderal and linear growth and reduced food intake in juvenile male rats, but did not affect their water intake. CA reduced weight gain in young males that were unoperated, castrated, castrated and receiving testosterone propionate injections or adrenalectomized, but CA was not effective in inhibiting the already slow rate of growth in Males that were both adrenelectomized and castrated. CA similarly failed to affect body weight in juvenile or old females, but it did inhibit weight gain following ovariectomy. In old males that were no longer gaining weight CA reduced food intake and caused a loss of body weight. Although food intake was reduced by CA treatment, pair feeding studies indicated that other factors must also be involved in the reduced rate of weight gain. CA failed to affect pituitary or plasma GH levels and treatment with bovine GH did not alter the effects of CA on ponderal or linear growth or food intake.