EXCRETION OF COMBINED NEUTRAL URINARY 17-KETOSTEROIDS IN SHORT TERM COLLECTION PERIODS. A STUDY OF SPONTANEOUS VARIABILITY

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of any outside stimuli, data were collected on the variability of 17-ketosteroids in the urine of 10 normal males and 10 normal females in 7 2-hour day periods and 1 10-hour night period. There were great individual differences in excretion variability. The authors stressed that the greater variability found in men was due to steroid metabolism and renal factors. A double wave rhythm in excretion of 17-ketosteroids with a morning maximum and a later secondary maximum was found on 179 of the 200 collection days. The possibility of a double wave biological rhythm in 17-ketosteroid excretion was discussed.