The excretion of synthetic oestrogens

Abstract

The ex-cretion pattern of hexestrol in the rabbit was determined but it was not possible to show that either the dose or the route of administration had any marked effect on the ratio of free to conjugated estrogen in the urine. The percentage excreted as disul-fate in the urine is low, even when small doses are administered. Ethinylestradiol was excreted unchanged mainly in the feces and no trace of estrone, alpha-estradiol or estriol could be detected in either the urine or feces. The percentage of administered stilestrol, triphenylchloroethylene and dipropyldibenzanthracenediol excreted in the urine and feces was also determined. Stilbestrol and its glucuronide were isolated from urine and triphenylchloro-ethyleno recovered unchanged from the feces. The glucuronide of 4-tert.-amyl phenol was isolated from urine and characterized. It was shown for hexestrol and ethinylestradiol that their ED50 as estrogens varies according to whether they are assayed biologically in arachis oil or 3% aqueous ethanol, the sensitivity being greater when the latter solvent is used.