Identification of 19-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone, 19-oxo-deoxycorticosterone, and 19-oic-deoxycorticosterone as products of deoxycorticosterone metabolism by rat adrenals.

The formation of 19-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone (19,21-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3,20-dione), 19-oxo-deoxycorticosterone (21-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3,19,20-trione), and 19-oic-deoxycorticosterone (19-oic-21-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3,20-dione) from precursor deoxycorticosterone by adrenal glands obtained from intact rats and from rats undergoing adrenal regeneration was demonstrated. These metabolites were isopolar with corresponding authentic steroid standards on thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography, and high pressure liquid chromatography. They were further characterized by either mass spectrometry or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Therefore, rat adrenals have the enzymes required to convert deoxycorticosterone to 19-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone, 19-oxo-deoxycorticosterone, and 19-oic-deoxycorticosterone; however, rat adrenals do not convert deoxycorticosterone or any of the oxygenated metabolites to 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone (21-hydroxy-19-nor-4-pregnen-3,20-dione). It is possible, however, that 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone is formed at peripheral sites from the oxygenated deoxycorticosterone precursors.