• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.329-332
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• 2005

HPMC-based novel gel formulations for the transdermal delivery of testosterone (TS) were developed, and the effect of various skin permeation enhancers was studied in vitro and in vivo. In vitro hairless mouse skin permeation of TS from the gel was investigated using Keshary-Chien diffusion cells for 8 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. In vivo plasma concentration profiles of TS after applying the gel on the abdominal skin of rat were determined using a commercial radioimmunoassay kit. Hairless mouse skin permeation of TS increased with the addition of permeation enhancers both in vitro and in vivo. Combination of diethanolamine (2%) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP, 6%) was the most effective among tested. Plasma concentration of TS significantly increased for at least 24 hours with the addition of diethanolamine and NMP. These results suggest the feasibility of the development of a HPMC-based gel formulation for the transdermal delivery of TS.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the effect of of transdermal testosterone gel (TTG) on controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and IVF outcomes and ovarian morphology according to pretreatment duration in poor responders. A total of 120 women were recruited for this pilot study. They were randomized into control, 2 weeks, 3 weeks or 4 weeks TTG treatment groups. For three TTG treatment groups, 12.5 mg TTG was applied daily for 2 weeks, 3 weeks or 4 weeks in preceding period of study stimulation cycle. After 3 weeks of TTG pretreatment, significant increase of antral follicle count (AFC) and significant decreases of mean follicular diameter (MFD) and resistance index (RI) value of ovarian stromal artery were observed (p=0.026, p<0.001, p<0.01, respectively). The total dose of rhFSH administered for COS significantly decreased after 3 and 4 weeks TTG treatment both compared with control group (p<0.001, p<0.001). The numbers of oocytes retrieved and mature oocytes were significanty higher in 3 and 4 weeks TTG treatment groups than control group (p<0.001, p<0.001 in the number of oocytes retrieved; p<0.001, p<0.001 in the number of mature oocytes). The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were increased only in 4 weeks TTG treatment group compared with control group (p=0.030 and p=0.042, respectively). These data demonstrated that TTG pretreatment for 3 to 4 weeks increases AFC and ovarian stromal blood flow, thereby potentially improving the ovarian response to COS and IVF outcome in poor responders undergoing IVF/ICSI.