ON THE DETERMINATION OF 17-KETOGENIC STEROIDS IN URINE

Abstract

Norymberski and his co-workers devised 2 procedures for the assay of corticoids in urine which utilize the principle of conversion of 17-OH-corticosteroids to 17-ketosteroids (17-KS) by means of sodium bismuthate oxidation, i. e. the determination of 17-ketogenic steroids (17-KGS). Estimating 17-KGS by the difference between total 17-KS after oxidation and pre-formed 17-KS was unsatis-factory. The method using sodium borohydride for an elimination of the natural 17-KS prior to oxidation was studied. Experiments showed that this procedure was useful for routine analysis of certain adreno-cortical metabolites in the urine. The 17-KGS excretions of 386 normal subjects were determined and the daily variation as well as the diurnal rhythm in the excretion of 17-KGS were also studied. Comparisons of this method and that of Sprechler (determination of corticoids as neutral, reducing, ketonic and lipids) were made. Both methods reflected the activity of the adrenal cortex but the assay of 17-KGS was easier to do and no unspecific urinary substances, which cause over-estimation of 17-KGS, were found. The increases of 17-KGS and 17-KS excretions due to corticotrophin stimulation were compared and the in-crease in 17-KGS excretion was greater in the 9 patients examined.