Metabolism of sodium oestrone [35S]sulphate in the guinea pig

Abstract

Intraperitoneal administration of sodium oestrone [35S]sulphate to male and female free-ranging guinea pigs is followed by excretion of most of the radioactivity mainly as inorganic [35S]sulphate in the urine within 72h. The remainder of the radioactivity in the urine was found in oestrone [35S]sulphate, two unidentified metabolites (A and B) and traces of oestradiol-17β 3-[35S]sulphate. When injected intraperitoneally into animals with bile-duct and bladder cannulae, most of the dose was excreted in the bile. Unchanged oestrone [35S]sulphate was the main biliary component excreted in males and females, but the latter also excreted appreciable amounts of oestradiol-17β 3-[35S]sulphate and metabolites A and B. The urine from these animals also contained these metabolites, inorganic [35S]sulphate and also oestrone [35S]sulphate, but in small amounts. Metabolite A was present only in samples from males. Whole body radioautography pinpointed the liver and kidney as the possible sites of metabolism of the ester. The ester underwent little desulphation in the isolated perfused female guinea-pig liver and in animals in which kidney function had been eliminated, and was excreted unchanged in the bile. These results and the observed low oestrogen sulphatase and arylsulphatase C activities found in guinea-pig liver and kidney support the view that the two enzymes are identical.