THE METABOLIC CLEARANCE RATES OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE, TESTOSTERONE AND THEIR SULPHATE ESTERS IN MAN, RAT AND RABBIT

Abstract

SUMMARY The disappearance of isotopically labelled dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone and their sulphates from the peripheral circulation of man, rabbit and rat has been investigated. Metabolic clearance rates, distribution volumes and half-lives have been determined for these compounds in the above species. In man, the steroid sulphates have a much lower metabolic clearance rate than the corresponding free steroids. This large difference stems from longer half-lives and lower distribution volumes of the former. In the rabbit or rat the steroid sulphates and the appropriate free steroids do not show such marked differences in their metabolic clearance rates: the half-lives and distribution volumes are comparable.