Steroid research

Initial steroid research involved isolation of sterols and bile acids from natural sources. DeFourcroy is generally credited with the discovery of cholesterol [57-88-5] (2) in 1789 (3). In 1848, choHc acid [81-25-4] (3) was isolated from the saponification of ox bile and its elementary composition deterrnined as... 

Efforts toward producing synthetic steroids, particularly cortisol, expanded during World War II to enable researchers to explore the possibiUty of medicinal appHcations of corticosteroids. In 1948, the discovery that cortisone dramatically alleviates the symptoms of arthritis led to intensive research on the antiinflammatory properties of corticosteroids. The development of partial and total syntheses for the commercial preparation of cortisone, alternative methods for producing cortisone, and the search for more potent antiinflammatory analogues gready stimulated both academic and industrial steroid research. 

In the 1980s, advances in biotechnology had a considerable impact on steroid research. During this period, the mechanism of steroid hormone-activated gene regulation became more clearly defined. These mechanistic studies stiH receive considerable attention in the primary Hterature. 

Catalytic hydrogenation has been utilized extensively in steroid research, and the method has been found to be of great value for the selective and stereospecific reduction of various functional groups. A number of empirical correlations concerning selectivity and product stereochemistry compiled for steroid hydrogenations has been listed in a previous review. ... 

The incorporation of a chapter on deuteration in a steroid monograph is quite reasonable since development of a number of the most important deuteration reactions have actually had their impetus through steroid research. The field of steroid chemistry offers possibly the largest variety of deuteration reactions of any area of organic chemistry. Many of these deuteration techniques have also been used for tritium labeling, which is especially pertinent in view of the large demand for tritiated steroids as tracers in biological experiments. 

Warner-Vister Steroid Research Institute Casatenovo (Como), Italy... 

Although the era of intensive steroid research saw many efforts to develop compounds with activities other than those catalogued, this work met with scant success. One such line of research did, however, bear fruit. 

From the practical point of view, the use of /3-D-glucuronidase, both animal214 and bacterial,216 as a tool in steroid research has been highly productive of improved methods for determinations of urinary 17-keto-steroid and cortin and for isolating new steroids. 

F. B. Colton, Steroids and the pill , early steroid research at Searle , Steroids, 1992, 57, 624-630. 

This chapter provides a short survey of the history and progress in steroidal research, focusing both on clinically important compounds and on those at an advanced stage of development. 

DJERASSI, C,. Steroid research at Syntex "the pill" and cortisone., Steroids, 1992, 12,631-641. 

Proponents of steroids say that adverse effects are rare and that medical science has failed to document any serious consequences of use. They say that instead of condemning nonmcdical use of anabolic steroids, researchers should be trying to invent new compounds that are anabolic without being significantly androgenic. 

Djerassi, C. Steroid research at Syntex the pill and cortisone. Steroids 1992, 57, 631-641. 

For the examination of novel samples and the initial identification and detection of steroids in complex mixtures, more elaborate techniques are required. Infrared spectra are now less sensitive and less valuable in practice than the use of the mass spectrometer. The direct coupling of the latter to GLC columns pioneered by Ryhage has provided the most powerful and chemically specific research tool now available for steroid research (E2, R6). Although LKB (Sweden) now supplies a good commercial model of the apparatus, this technique is too expensive and needs too much technical backup to be applicable to routine work outside the larger medical centers. Even so, the full exploitation of this technique outside of basic research will probably require the extensive use of automation and electronic data processing. 

Steroid researches account for a substantial fraction of the literature of organic chemistry each year. They continue to do so for two reasons steroids have intrinsic biological and pharmacological interest and hence industrial importance they also serve as readily accessible and very suitable substances for the study of reactions and reagents and physical methods of analysis. We have sought to separate these two aspects of steroid chemistry in Chapters 1 and 2 of Part II, but inevitably the two overlap to some extent. Steroid biosynthesis has been included in Chapter 6, because it logically belongs there, but also because the depth of enquiry applied to it is unequalled in other areas of terpenoid biosynthesis. 

Table VI. Instrumental and Analytical Techniques Applied to Steroid Research (Timetable)...

The spread of steroid research on a world-wide basis is typical of a phenomenon in research in which trends develop spontaneously, resulting in global research teams and remarkably well balanced but competitive programs. Equally spontaneous is the assumption of leadership in guiding such trends usually one can identify a few pioneers who were responsible for shaping the course of the overall effort even though it is widespread. 

Before leaving the steroids to take up the prostaglandins, it is important to assess the impact of modern instrumental and analytical techniques on steroid hormone research. Table VI shows that the general use of these techniques in steroid research began during the 1950 s, too late to assist in the steroid hormone era. The cortisone era through the 1950 s... 

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