The identification and quantification of three new 6alpha-hydroxylated corticosteroids in human neonatal urine.

The 24 hours urines of six two days old fullterm newborn infants were investigated for polar corticosteroids. 6alpha-hydroxy-tetrahydrocortisone, 6alpha-hydroxy-20alpha-cortolone and 6alpha-hydroxy-20beta-cortolone were identified by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric comparison of the urinary steroids to compounds synthesized previously. These 6alpha-hydroxylated corticosteroids as well as seven other polar corticosteroids were quantified by gas chromatography or mass fragmentography. It was shown that the newly identified steroids constituted a quantitatively important part of the neonatal urinary corticosteroids. The unconjugated- and glucuronic acid conjugated steroids were quantified separately. It was found that the extent of glucuronoconjugation decreased with increasing polarity of the steroid moiety.