17-methylandrost-2-en-17-ol

Description

17-methylandrost-2-en-17-ol is a synthetic steroid that is structurally related to testosterone. It's important for research because:

**1. It's a potent androgen receptor (AR) agonist:** This means it binds to and activates the AR, which is a protein involved in the development and function of male sexual characteristics. This makes it useful in studying the role of AR in various physiological and pathological processes.

**2. It's a potential therapeutic agent:** Due to its potent androgenic activity, it has been explored as a potential treatment for conditions like hypogonadism (low testosterone) and muscle wasting.

**3. It's a valuable research tool:** 17-methylandrost-2-en-17-ol serves as a valuable tool for researchers investigating:

* **The role of AR in various tissues and conditions:** It can help determine the involvement of AR in different diseases and the potential for targeting AR to develop new therapies.
* **The mechanisms of action of AR agonists:** It can be used to study how AR agonists work at the molecular level and to identify new targets for drug development.
* **The development of novel androgenic drugs:** Its structure and activity provide a starting point for the design of new androgenic drugs with improved efficacy and safety profiles.

**However, it's important to note:**

* 17-methylandrost-2-en-17-ol is not currently approved for therapeutic use in humans.
* Its use in research is regulated and requires careful consideration of its potential risks and benefits.

**Further research is ongoing to explore the full therapeutic potential and safety profile of 17-methylandrost-2-en-17-ol.**

17-methylandrost-2-en-17-ol: a designer steroid; structure in first source [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]