Changes In Fractions Of Urinary Free 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids Before And After Operation

Fractions (compound F, compound E, THE and THE) of urinary free and total 17-OHCS were determined in ten patients who underwent various operations, using thin layer chromatography and column chromatography, and the following results were obtained. The excretion pattern of fractions of urinary free 17-OHCS was quite different from fractions of total 17-OHCS which were measured after hydrolysis with B-glucuronidase. In addition, there was a limit to the excretion of free comp. E, THE and THE. The excretion amounts of free comp. F and comp. E were several tens percent of comp. F and comp. E which were determined as fractions of total 17-OHCS. However, the excretion amounts of free THE and THE were only several percent of THE and THE which were determined as fractions of total 17-OHCS. It was clear that comp. F and comp. E were also conjugated with glucuronic acid though the degrees of conjugation were much lower than their metabolites, THE and THE. After operation, the rates of conjugation of free comp. F and comp. E diminished as compared with those in control subjects, and the metabolism of cortisol shifted to THE pathway.