Androstanediol Glucuronide Plasma Clearance and Production Rates in Normal and Hirsute Women*

Abstract

We studied the kinetics and metabolism of tritiated 5α-androstane-3α-17/3-diol glucuronide (3αrdiolG) in normal and hirsute women. We found no difference in the MCR of 3adiolG betweennormal and hirsute women [130 ± 39 (±SD) vs. 157± 81; P = NS]. The blood production rate was markedly increased in hirsute women (187 ± 50 vs. 604 ± 355 μg/day; P < 0.01) and correlated well with the plasma 3βdiolG level (r = 0.96).In women, the conversion ratio of 3αdiolG to unconjugated 3αdiol or dihydrotestosteronewasless than 1%, while the conversion ratio to dihydrotestosterone glucuronide was about 6%. We conclude that the elevated plasma levels of 3αdiolG characteristic of hirsutism reflect increased production of this androgen metabolite.