METABOLISM OF THE STEROID HORMONES: THE METABOLISM OF TESTOSTERONE IN A NORMAL WOMAN

Abstract

CALLOW AND CALLOW (1938, 1939) have isolated androsterone etiocholanol-3(α)-one-17, and dehydroisoandrosterone in yields of 1.3 mg., 1.3 mg. and 0.2 mg. per liter, respectively, from the urine of normal women, Isoandrosterone has also been isolated in small amounts from the urine of normal women (Pearlman, 1940). Following the administration of testosterone to castrate or postmenopausal women, increased titers of urinary 17-ketosteroids have been found (Hamblen, et al., 1939; Nathansonand Towne, 1939). Taylor, Mecke and Twombly (1943) recovered 11.9 and 29.2% of injected testosterone in the form of urinary 17-ketosteroids. These calculations are based on the assumption that the pre-treatment level of 17-ketosteroids was not influenced by the administered testosterone. The nature of the testosterone metabolites has not been investigated in these studies. The conversion of testosterone to 17-ketosteroids has been demonstrated in men (Callow, 1939; Cook, Hamilton and Dorfman, 1939; Dorfman, Cook and Hamilton, 1939; Dorfman, 1941). Dorfman, Cook and Hamilton (1939)