The concept that the testes contain some magical substance that enhances vigor has existed since ancient times. Galen wrote in Peri-Spermatos: “What is, therefore, the cause that castrates slow down in their whole vital capacity?”<sup>10 Carruthers M. Maximizing Manhood  London: Harper Collins (1997). 

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> Ayruvedic medicine advocated ingestion of testes to treat impotence and obesity, and more than 2000 years ago, Pliny prescribed eating testicles to improve sexual vigor.

In 1889, Brown-Sequard<sup>8 Brown-Sequard C.E. The physiological and therapeutic of animal testicular extract based on several experiments in man Physiol Norm Pathol 1889 ;  115 : 739-746

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> reported that he had reversed his own age-related problems by injecting himself with testicular extracts. In his carefully written report, he acknowledged that the effect could have been a placebo one. Brown-Sequard's report unleashed a flurry of testicular extract treatment that continued throughout the end of the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century. The leading proponent of this approach was Voronoff, who in the 1920s charged up to $5000 for a chimpanzee testicular transplant into the rich of Europe.<sup>23 Hamilton D. The Monkey Gland Affair  New York: Chatto & Windus (1986). 

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> A human-to-human testicular transplant was performed by Lespinasse in Chicago.<sup>10 Carruthers M. Maximizing Manhood  London: Harper Collins (1997). 

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> Stanley at San Quentin prison transplanted fresh testicles from executed inmates into other prisoners. The physicians who popularized testicular extract transplants became renowned as the erector doctors. By the end of World War II, testicular transplants had led to a backlash, and Pincus, a leading American endocrinologist,<sup>26 Hoberman J.M., Yesalis C.E. The history of synthetic testosterone Sci Am 1995 ;  272 : 76-81  [cross-ref]

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> wrote that testes transplants had been “obnoxiously publicized in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries” and, in his opinion, had derailed the development of endocrinology by “the exploitation of the idea of rejuvenation by hormones.”

In 1935, Laqueur of Organon reported successful extraction of pure testosterone from bulls' testicles.<sup>12 David K., Dingemanse E., Freud J. , y al. Uber krystallinisches mannliches Hormon aus Hoden (Testosteron), wirksamer als aus Harn oder aus Cholesterin bereitetes Androsteron Hoppe-Seylers Z Physiol Chem 1935 ;  233 : 282-292

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> In the same year, Butenandt and Hanish<sup>9 Butenandt F.J., Hanish G. Uber Testosteron. Umwanlung des Dehydro-androsterons in Androstendiol und Testosteron: ein Weg zur Darstellung des Testosterons aus Cholesterin’ Hoppe-Seylers Z Physiol Chem 1935 ;  237 : 89-98

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> and Ruzicka and Wettstein<sup>49 Ruzicka L., Wettstein A. Synthetische Darstellung der Testishhormons, Testosteron (Androsten 3 on 17-ol) Helv Chim Acta 1935 ;  18 : 1264-1275  [cross-ref]

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> both reported a method to synthesize testosterone from cholesterol. For their work, they received the Nobel Prize in 1939. In 1940, Thomas and Hill<sup>53 Thomas H.B., Hill E.R.T. Testosterone propionate and the male climacteric Endocrinology 1940 ;  26 : 953

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> reported successful treatment of the male climacteric with testosterone propionate. This report was followed in 1944 by one in the Journal of the American Medical Association on the use of testosterone to treat the male climacteric.<sup>25 Heller C.G., Myers G.B. The male climacteric: Its symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment JAMA 1944 ;  126 : 472-477

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> In some of their 20 cases, Heller and Myers<sup>25 Heller C.G., Myers G.B. The male climacteric: Its symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment JAMA 1944 ;  126 : 472-477

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> used sesame oil as a placebo to rule out the placebo effect. Between this time and the 1970s, many physicians treated the male climacteric with testosterone. A leading proponent of this therapy was Reiter, a German physician.<sup>47 Reiter T. Testosterone implantation: A clinical study of 240 implantations in ageing males J Am Geriatr Soc 1963 ;  11 : 540-550

Haga clic aquí para ir a la sección de Referencias</sup> Only in the last few years has sufficient scientific evidence been accumulated to begin to satisfy the medical establishment that testosterone levels decline with age and that testosterone replacement therapy may play a role in enhancing functional capacity as well as increasing libido as men age.