Estrene steroids as neurochemical initiators of change in human hypothalamic function and related pharmaceutical compositions

A pharmaceutical composition in a dosage unit form adapted for nasal administration in a human subject, said composition comprising per dosage unit, an effective amount of an Estrene steroid in a range to effect the nervous system through the vomeronasal organ but ineffective to have a systemic effect by absorption into the circulatory system and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said Estrene steroid has the formula ##STR73## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of one or two hydrogen atoms, methyl, methylene, and one or two halo atoms;

• R.sub.2 is absent or is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl;
• R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of oxo, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower acyloxy, benzoyl, cypionyl, glucouronide and sulfonyl;
• R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower acyloxy and halo;
• R.sub.5 is absent or is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, lower alkoxy and lower acyloxy;
• R.sub.6 is a hydrogen or a halo;
• and "a" represents optional aromatic unsaturation of ring A of said steroid, or "b", "c", and "d" are each optional double bonds;
• and "e", "f", "g", "h", "i" and "j" are each optional double bonds;
• wherein:
• "h" and "i" are both double bonds;
• or "j" is a double bond;
• or "c" and "d" are double bonds;
• or "f" is a double bond.