THE CONVERSION OF CORTISONE ACETATE TO OTHER ALPHA-KETOLIC STEROIDS*†

Abstract

WITH the development of a paper chromatographic method for the isolation and identification of the individual corticosteroids in biologic mixtures (1, 2) it has become possible to detect small changes in the excretion of these compounds in human urine. We have previously reported (3) that the chief α-ketolic corticosteroids obtained from the urine of normal persons by continuous ether extraction at pH 1.0 consisted of cortisone and compound F (15 to 40 gamma of each, daily) and of smaller amounts of more polar material also of the C₂₁O₅ type.