IDENTIFICATION OF THREE TRANSFORMATION PRODUCTS AFTER AN ADRENAL PERFUSION WITH EPIANDROSTERONE12

THE technique of bovine adrenal perfusion has been utilized in the study of the metabolism of steroids (cf. Hechter et al., 1951). Detailed reports of perfusions with various compounds such as desoxycorticosterone and 17-hydroxy-desoxycorticosterone (Levy et al, 1953) and cortisone (Meyer, 1953a) have been published. In addition several 17-ketosteroids have been perfused under similar conditions. These include androsterone (Hechter et ah, 1950), Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione (Jeanloz et al., 1953), and dehydroepiandrosterone (Meyer et al., 1953). Epiandrosterone (androstane-3β-ol-17-one) was selected for study as the next steroid in this series. This communication is a report of this perfusion and the products isolated from it. Approximately 33% unchanged epiandrosterone (II) was recovered. In addition about 10% androstane-3,17-dione (I) was obtained. 11β-Hydroxylation was also noted, but occurred in a rather limited degree; androstane-11β-ol-3,17-dione (III) and androstane-3β,11β-diol-17-one (IV) were isolate...