Glucuronide conjugation androgens

Disposition in the Body. Testosterone is the androgenic hormone formed in the testes. In man, it is metabolised to 5a-androstane-3a,17)5-diol, androsterone, etiocholanolone, and 5a-androstene-3,17-dione. In the horse, the major metabolites are 5a-androstane-3)5,17a-diol, which is excreted in the urine as the glucuronide conjugate, and the 17)5-epimer which is excreted in the urine as the sulphate conjugate. 

About 90% of the androgens are excreted in the urine 6% appear in the feces after undergoing enterohepatic circulation. Small amounts are also excreted as soluble glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Many of the synthetic androgens have a longer half-life. Unaltered compounds are excreted in the urine and feces. 

Adrenal androgens also have a complex metabolic fate DHEA-S is formed in the adrenal cortex or by sulfokinases in the liver and kidney from DHEA and excreted by the kidney. DHEA and DHEA-S can be metabolized by 7a-and 16a-hydroxylases. 17p-Reduction of both compounds forms A -5-androstenediol and its sulfate. Androstenedione can be metabolized to androsterone after 3a- and 5a-reduction. 5P-Reduction results in the formation of etiocholanolone (see Eigure 51-7). These metabolites are conjugated to glucuronides and sulfates, which are then excreted in the urine. 

Figure 2.2 Examples of natural androgen analytes in human samples. Glucuronide or sulfate conjugates of these steroids are formed with the C-3 or C-17 hydroxyl group...

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