CLINICAL METHOD FOR THE CHROMATOGRAPHIC-COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF URINARY 17-KETOSTEROIDS. I.

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Abstract
DURING recent years determinations of the 17-ketosteroid content of urine have been made in addition to or instead of the biological assay of androgens. The results obtained are believed to reflect the activity of both the gonads and the adrenals. The 17-ketosteroid determination is performed colorimetrically according to the method of Zimmermann (21). In this assay m-dinitrobenzene is used, which yields a wine red color with 17-ketosteroidsin an alkaline medium. Since urinary extracts are usually very dark in color, which prevents a colorimetric assay, several investigators interpose a chromatographic analysis. Forthis purpose the extract, which in most cases has undergone some preliminary chemical pu ification, is dissolved in carbon tetrachloride, benzene or ethanol. This solutionis passed through a column of A12O3, standardized according to Brockmann. The column is rinsed and eluated. The eluate is withdrawn in one or several fractions in which the 17-ketosteroids can be determined. Usually this assay is performed with the total eluate.