Disposition of Dehydroepiandrosterone and Its Sulfate in Human Subject1

Abstract

The disposition of 4-¹⁴C dehydroepiandrosterone (D) and 7α-³H dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS) (³H/¹⁴C =5.0) was studied in 11 subjects, 5 of whom had biliary fistulas. The mixture of D and DS was injected intravenously in 9 subjects and taken orally by 2 subjects. About 2% of ¹⁴C appeared in the bile, whereas 11% of ³H was excreted by that route. Urinary excretion in intact subjects was 45% of the ¹⁴C and 55% of the ³H. The total recovery of radioactivity was the same in all groups, indicating intestinal absorption of D and DS. This conclusion was confirmed by the results of oral ingestion, which closely resembled those following intravenous administration. The ³H/¹⁴C ratio of urinary testosterone glucosiduronide was initially 1/10 of that injected, suggesting that of the 2 steroids administered DS is a poorer precursor of testosterone.