Influence of Ultraviolet Irradiation upon Excretion of Sex Hormones in the Male
| Author | Abraham Myerson and Rudolph Neustadt |
|---|---|
| Published | July 1939 |
| Format | Research paper |
TL;DR — A 1939 Endocrinology paper reporting that ultraviolet irradiation raised urinary androsterone in a handful of male psychiatric patients, most when the genital region was irradiated.
Published in Endocrinology, vol. 25 (July 1939), from the Division of Psychiatric Research at Boston State Hospital. The authors gave courses of ultraviolet exposure, increasing from 8 to 20 minutes, to a small group of hospitalised men with depressive conditions between November 1938 and February 1939, and measured androsterone in their urine by colorimetric assay.
They report a consistent rise in androgen output after irradiation, larger when the genital region rather than the chest was exposed, and argue the uniform hospital conditions make the change meaningful. They flag the open questions themselves: the season, the reliability of colorimetric assays, and the very small sample.
What it is: a short, early peer-reviewed study with a tiny uncontrolled sample and 1930s assay methods. It is cited today in online testosterone and sunlight discussions far beyond what its design supports.
Where this came from
- A copy saved in October 2026.
6 pages. A PDF copy is held in Kyle’s private archive; it is not linked or shared here.