Hydrolysis of Steroid Glucuronides withβ-Glucuronidase from Preputial Glands of the Female Rat

Abstract
The conditions appropriate for the hydrolysis of urinary steroid glucuronides with β-glucuronidase from the preputial glands of female rats have been investigated. This tissue has been found to give high yields of a β-glucuronidase which hydrolyses glucuronides of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, 17-ketosteroids, pregnandiol and pregnantriol. The optimal conditions for hydrolysis have been found to be: 300 units enzyme/ml of urine with 0.5M acetate buffer at pH 4.5 for 12 or more hours at 45° C. The problem of urinary inhibitors is discussed.