THE METABOLISM OF 3β,21-DIHYDROXYPREGN-5-EN-20-ONE AND 3β,17α,21-TRIHYDROXYPREGN-5-EN-20-ONE IN MAN

Abstract

SUMMARY After the oral administration of tritiated 3β,21-dihydroxypregn-5-en-20-one (21-hydroxypregnenolone) to a normal subject, 40% of the radioactivity was excreted during the first 24 hr. The disulphate fraction which contained mainly 21-hydroxypregnenolone 3,21-disulphate, accounted for 62 % of the total radioactivity. The monosulphate fraction accounted for 6·8% of the total radioactivity. In the glucosiduronic acid fraction (8·7%) 21-hydroxypregnenolone, tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone were detected. After the simultaneous oral and intravenous administration of inert and tritiated 3β,17α,21-trihydroxypregn-5-en-20-one (17α,21-dihydroxypregnenolone) only 25·7% of the radioactivity was excreted in the first 24 hr. The monosulphate fraction, accounting for 64% of the total radioactivity, contained 3β,17α,20ξ,21-tetrahydroxypregn-5-en-20-one, dehydroepiandrosterone and 17α,21-dihydroxypregnenolone. In the glucosiduronic acid fraction (15%), 17β,21-dihydroxypregnenolone, tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol, allotetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol, aetiocholanolone and androsterone were detected.