Studies on Testosterone Metabolism. IV. Urinary 5 α and βAndrostanediols and Testosterone Glucuronide from Testosterone and Dehydroisoandrosterone Sulfate in Normal People and Hirsute Women

Abstract

Radioactive testosterone and dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate have been injected into normal men and women and into hirsute women, and urinary metabolites have been isolated from their urine. The conversion of testosterone to androstanediols is more important in men and hirsute women than in normal women. This observation may be related to testosterone production, found to be higher in the former than in the latter. The yields of androstanediols formed from dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate are identical in all subjects. The isotope ratio in androstanediols and testosterone glucuronide, as well as the 5[alpha]/5[beta] ratio of the metabolites from the 2 precursors, indicate that dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate, gives androstanediols mainly without passing through testosterone. Testosterone production from dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate has been estimated to be approximately 5%. In Stein-Leventhal patients, dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate production is normal and it is elevated in women with "idiopathic hirsutism." Dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate production does not account for the elevated testosterone production found in hirsutes.