ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF 11-KETOTESTOSTERONE IN SALMON PLASMA

Abstract

A new blood steroid, 11-ketotestosterone, has been isolated from postspawned male sockeye salmon. The steroid was identified by chromatography, infrared spectra, chemical transformation, and synthesis. This steroid is present at a concentration of 12 μg/100 ml of plasma and probably was reported as corticosterone by other investigators. Evidence is presented in support of the occurrence of corticosterone at a very low concentration in salmon plasma. The concentrations of cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, and total Porter–Silber positive steroids were determined in large plasma samples taken from postspawned fish of both sexes.