Effect of structure on the excretion of steroidal acids in human urine and their potential colorimetric assay as 17-oxogenic steroids.

Following the oral administration of tritiated coricosterone, cortisol, deoxycorticosterone and progesterone to human subjects, 14.9%, 12.8%, 3.4% and 2.1% of the dose was recovered in the acidic metabolite fraction of 48 h urines after conventional hydrolysis and solvent partition. Neutral and acidic 17-oxogenic steroids (17-OGS) excreted in 24 h urines were also measured with the Zimmermann color reaction. The acidic 17-IGS accounted for 14.1%, 16.4% and 12.1% of the fractionated 17-OGS in the urines of normal and pregnant females and normal males respectively. From structural considerations, it was concluded that only 17-hydroxylated steroidal acids, with a 20-hydroxy-21-oic acid side chain and derived predominantly from cortisol, would be estimated as 17-OGS after oxidation with sodium periodate. 17-Dexy steroidal acids resemble the neutral 17-deoxycorticosteroids in undergoing side chain oxication to 17-aldehydes which do not form Zimmermann chromogens. The excretion of both neutral and acidic 17-OGS was suppressible with dexamethasone administration.