Open AccessExcretion of Steroid Hormones in Adults
Author(s) -
Eriksson Håkan,
Gustafsson JanÅke,
Sjövall Jan
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1970.tb00881.x
Subject(s) - pregnane , steroid , triol , excretion , chemistry , hormone , medicine , pregnanediol , feces , endocrinology , urine , diol , biochemistry , biology , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , paleontology
The C 19 and C 21 steroids in faeces from pregnant women have been studied by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Over 90% of the steroids identified were unconjugated and had the following general structures: androstane‐3,17‐diol, 3‐hydroxy‐17β‐pregnan‐20‐one, 3‐hydroxy‐17α‐pregnan‐20‐one, 3β‐hydroxy‐5‐pregnen‐20‐one, pregnane‐3,20‐diol, 3,16α‐dihydroxypregnan‐20‐one, 5β‐pregnane‐3α,17α,20α‐triol, pregnane‐3,16α,20‐triol, and 5α‐pregnane‐3,20α,21‐triol. The C 21 O 2 steroid isomers in the monosulphate and “diconjugate” fractions had the 5α configuration whereas both 5α and 5β isomers were present in the free steroid fraction. The major part of the 5α‐steroids carried a 3β‐hydroxyl group whereas the predominant 5β‐steroids had a 3α‐hydroxyl group. The results suggest that steroids excreted in the bile are modified by hydrolase, oxidoreductase and dehydroxylase activities of the intestinal microorganisms. The amount of steroids in a pooled smaple of faeces from a nine‐month pregnant woman corresponded to a daily excretion of 33 mg. This value indicates that faecal excretion is important in the elimination of steroids in pregnancy.