Open AccessSteroids in Germfree and Conventional Rats
Author(s) -
Eriksson H.,
Gustafsson J.Å.,
Sjövall J.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1969.tb00607.x
Subject(s) - sephadex , chromatography , chemistry , steroid , feces , pregnane , biochemistry , medicine , biology , enzyme , stereochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , hormone
Free steroids in faeces from germfree and conventional rats were studied by gas chromato‐graphy‐mass spectrometry after purification on carboxymethyl Sephadex LH‐20 and separation on methylated Sephadex G‐25. Only minor amounts of free steroids were found in germfree rats; these could not be identified. In contrast to this, conventional rats excreted considerable amounts of free steroids: 3α‐hydroxy‐5α,17α‐pregnan‐20‐one, 3α‐hydroxy‐5α‐pregnan‐20‐one, 3β‐hydroxy‐5α,17α‐pregnan‐20‐one (major component), 3β‐hydroxy‐5α‐pregnan‐20‐one, and 5α‐pregnane‐3β,20β‐diol. Furthermore, 5α‐pregnane‐3α,20β‐diol was tentatively identified. These findings are discussed in relation to what is known about steroid sulphates in faeces from germfree and conventional rats.