NORMAL URINARY EXCRETION OF NEUTRAL 17-KETOSTEROIDS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AGE AND SEX VARIATIONS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Following combined acid hydrolysis and benzene extraction, of 24-hr. urine specimens, the residue was dissolved in ether from which the neutral 17-ketosteroids were separated. For the chemical reaction, the Zimmermann reaction as modified by Callow et al. was used. For the colorimetric assay, a Coleman spectrophotometer (Junior model A) was employed, and the absorption was measured at 10 wave length between 400 and 700 m[mu]. Correction for unspecific chromogenic compounds was made utilizing the formula proposed by Gibson and Evelyn. The material includes detns. on 137 normal males, varying in age from 3 to 102 yrs., and on 127 normal females, 2 to 92 years old. The avg. values as well as the spread are graphically tabulated for each class covering a 10 year-period. Also included are the values obtained from 10 male castrates. The urinary excretion runs parallel in boys and girls until the age of 15 yrs. (30 observations) at which time an average value of about 6 mg./24 hrs. was found. Thereafter, the male curve was at a higher level than the female curve throughout life reaching its max. for the male at the age of 25 where the avg. excretion amounted to 15.4 mg./ 24 hrs. Throughout the following decades, a gradual fall in the excretion was noted. After 70 yrs., the excretion was below 5 mg./24 hrs. In the female, the max. excretion also occurred at the age of 25, averaging 10 mg./24 hrs. In the middle of the 3d decade, a steep fall was noted to an avg. value of about 5-6 mg./24 hrs. (35 detns.). The drop was followed by a plateau to the age of 55 yrs. after which time a gradual fall ensued. A 2d rise in the ketosteroid excretion after the menopause, such as reported by Hamblen, was not observed. The values obtained from the analysis of male castrate urine were of the same magnitude as those of females.