STUDIES IN STEROID METABOLISM. XIX. THE a-KETOSTEROID EXCRETION PATTERN IN NORMAL MALES 1

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The individual components of the neutral alpha-ketosteroid fraction from urine were detd. in 20 normal males ranging in age from 21 to 76 yrs. After preliminary separation, the steroids were isolated by chromatography and identified by infrared spectrometry. The principal components in a quantitative sense were 3alpha-hydroxyetiocholane-ll,17-dione, 3 alpha, 11 beta-dihydroxyandrostane-17-one, etiocholanolone, and androsterone. Other compounds were present in small or trace amts. The presence of an oxygen atom at carbon-11 of the steroid nucleus permitted distinction of metabolites primarily derived from adrenal hormones. By this criterion, it was concluded that adrenal function was essentially constant during the decades studied, whereas the level of metabolites, derived primarily from gonadal precursors, diminished in the older group. There were, however, variations with individual subjects within age groups so that it would appear the determinants of hormone production and metabolism are peculiar to the subject rather than a consequence of chronological age.