ANALOGIES BETWEEN URINARY 17-KETOSTEROIDS AND URINARY “ESTROIDS,” AS DETERMINED MICROCHEMICALLY*

Abstract

Like testosterone, estradiol is converted within the human organism into degradation products of lower biological potency. This mixture is termed urinary "estroids," because after extraction and appropriate partial purification, it can be estimated microchemi-cally in terms of estradiol equivalents. An "antithetical ratio," E/A, can be obtained by dividing the urinary 17-ketosteroids (mg.) into the "estroids" (micrograms). Normal males in the 3d decade showed a ratio of 19.8 divided into 16.7 or 0.86. In normal females and in simple hirsutism the ratio lay between 2 and 13; in adrenal virilism (3 cases) the ratio was less than 1. The "estroids" rise sharply at ovulation. A 6-hrs. aliquot of urine is used routinely. Technically the accuracy of detn. of "estroids" is limited by the efficiency of present extraction procedures, which approximates 50% over a wide range of urinary concns.