STEROID STUDIES. II. THE METABOLISM OF ANDROSTAN-17(β)-OL-3-ONE*

Abstract

Total 24-hr, urinary 17-ketosteroids were measured before and during daily intramusc. injn. of 50 mg. of androstan-17 ([beta])-ol-3-one to a 43 yr. old agonadal male. Aliquots of the total 24-hrs. urinary neutral 17-ketosteroid excretion were chromatographically separated over alumina into 44 fractions; the columns were developed successively with benzene, 0.1% ethanol in benzene and 0.5% ethanol in benzene solns. Each fraction was assayed for 17-ketosteroid content. The total 24-hr, urinary neutral 17-ketosteroids increased after the steroid was given, however, the excretion of certain unidentified fractions decreased. Therefore, the steroid apparently inhibited endogenous 17-ketosteroid production and the assumption generally made of a constant basic level of urinary steroid excretion during steroid treatment equal to pre-treatment levels is not necessarily valid. Some evidence that stanolone was metabolized to epiandrosterone and androsterone was obtained. Apparently, none of the injected stanolone was excreted unchanged.