Description

The androgen receptor agonist, andarine (S4), prevented the catabolic effects of castration on skeletal muscle, bone, and prostate in castrated rats. Doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg of S4 restored the following measures to that seen in intact animals: soleus muscle mass and strength, levator ani muscle mass, and cancellous bone volume and mineral density. Additionally, the antiandrogen, bicalutamide, prevented the growth-stimulatory effect of S4 on both levator ani and soleus muscle. These results suggest that S4 has anabolic and androgenic properties and has the potential to provide therapeutic benefit in conditions associated with muscle wasting, osteoporosis, and BPH.