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METABOLISM OF THE STEROID HORMONES: THE CONVERSION OF ⁵-ANDROSTENEDIOL-3(β),17() TO DEHYDROISOANDROSTERONE

The presence of A5-androstenediol-3(β),17() has been demonstrated in the urine of a boy suffering from an adrenal cortical cancer (Hirschmann and Hirschmann, 1945) and in the urine of a woman with an adrenal cortical cancer (Schiller, Miller, and Dorfman, 1945). It has been further demonstrated that the administration of A5-androstenediol-3(β),17(a) to man gives rise to an increased urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids (Frame, Fleischmann and Wilkins, 1944). This study is concerned with the conversion of ⁵-androstenediol-3(β),17() into dehydroisoandrosterone.

Each of three normal adult male guinea pigs received 150 mg. of A5- androstenediol-3(β),17() diacetate1 daily for four days. The steroid was dissolved in sesame oil and injected subcutaneously. A total dose of 1,800 mg. of the diacetate was administered. Urine was collected for ten daysduring the pre-injection period.during the injection period, and for five days after the injections were discontinued. The urines were acidified with 10 concentrated hydrochloric acid by volume, refluxed for 10 minutes, and extracted three times with benzene (1 part benzene to 4 parts urine).

Received June 25, 1945.