Androsterone radioactive

Data obtained in vivo (Baulieu et al, 1965) have shown (Fig. 9) that after an injection of radioactive dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroe-piandrosterone sulfate, the free compound is transformed more rapidly and more eflBciently into androsterone and etiocholanolone than the sulfo conjugate, the latter being apparently protected from rapid liver catabolism. 

Fig. 9. Urinary radioactive androsterone and SjS ndrosterone after injection of C-dehydroepiandrosterone (above) and H-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (below) (percentage of the injected radioadtivity).

Some compounds such as androsterone sulfate, do not seem to be hydrolyzed (Baulieu and Michaud, 1961) but must form unlcnown metabolites, since after administration of the radioactive compound less than 20% of the radioactivity was found in 48 hours urine and less than 2% passed into the bile ( Baulieu et al., 1967b). 

When radioactive tracers of dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone glucuronide are injected intravenously, the conversion of both compounds to dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is nearly equivalent (contribution dehydroepiandrosterone glucuronide/ contribution dehydroepiandrosterone = 0.8). On the other hand, dehydroepiandrosterone glucuronide gives only 10% of the amount of androsterone obtained... 

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