STUDIES ON THE CONVERSION OF TESTOSTERONE TO URINARY 17-KETOSTEROIDS IN NORMAL HUMAN MALES AND MALES WITH HEPATIC AND OTHER DISEASES*

Abstract

The extent of conversion of testosterone to total urinary 17-ketosteroids was studied in normal males, in males who were acutely ill and in patients with severe liver damage. Normal individuals exhibited wide differences in their ability to transform testosterone to 17-ketosteroids; from 9.6 to 71% (mean: 35%) of the steroid was thus metabolized. No correlation could be found between the control level of excretion of 17-ketosteroids and the extent of this transformation. Also, considerable difference in the extent of transformation of testosterone to 17-ketosteroids was seen in the same individual at different times. It is not known what these findings signify either in terms of testosterone metabolism or in terms of adrenal cortical function. In spite of severe, diffuse liver disease considerable testosterone (from 9 - 31%) was converted to urinary 17-ketosteroids. The results could not be distinguished from those obtained on seriously ill patients not suffering from recognizable hepatic disease. The human liver can not be considered to be all-important in the metabolic transformation of testosterone to 17-ketosteroids. However, the observation that the mean extent of this transformation by patients who were ill from a variety of disorders was significantly less than normal indicates that these states can influence the conversion of precursor hormone to excretory product.