It was named testosterone because: the stems of testicles and sterol, and the suffix ketone (David KG et al., 1935). In August of 1935, Butenandt and Hanisch chemically synthesized testosterone from a cholesterol base (Butenandt A, Hanisch G, 1935); one week after that, Leopold Ruzicka and A. Wettstein published their own synthesis of testosterone from a cholesterol base (Ruzicka L, Wettstein A, 1935). Although these great feats of discovery were completely independent of one another, Butenandt and Ruzicka shared the 1939 Nobel Peace Prize in Chemistry. Following this, Allan Kenyon's group showed that testosterone raised nitrogen retention (important for anabolism); they also showed androgenic and anabolic effects of testosterone propionate in men, boys, and women (Kenyon et al., 1940). This period from the 1930's until the 1950's is known as " The Golden Age of Steroid Chemistry " (Schwarz, 1999). .
What is Testosterone? Testosterone's IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemists) name is: 17-hydroxy-10,13-dimethyl- 1,2,6,7"9,11,12,14,15,16,17- dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one. Its CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) number is: 58-22-0. Its chemical formula is: C19H28O2. Testosterone is steroid hormone from the androgen group. Androgen groups of steroid hormones are hormones that have masculinizing effects on individuals. Testosterone, derived from cholesterol, is produced in the testes in males and ovaries in females; some is also secreted in small amounts from the adrenal cortex. Like all hormones, testosterone, travels throughout the bloodstream and binds to tissues in order to influence physical and psychological activity. .
Testosterone can benefit an individual physically in a wide range of ways. It plays a key role in fat distribution, muscle strength and mass, red blood cell production, sex drive, sperm production (males only), energy, etc. It also enlarges organs in males such as: heart, liver, lungs, etc.