Comparative fate of testosterone and testosterone sulphate in female rats: C 19O 2 and C 19O 3 steroid metabolites in the bile

Abstract

Comparative fate of [ 14C]-testosterone and [ 3H]-testosterone sulphate was investigated in female rats with biliary fistulas. The injected steroids were predominantly excreted in the bile. There were large variations in testosterone metabolites. In the rat with high rate of biliary excretion (the HE rat), androsterone glucosiduronate was the major metabolite present in the bile, whereas monosulphates of 3α,7α- and 3α,11β-dihydroxy-5α-androstan-17-ones and androsterone were the predominant ones in the rat with low rate of biliary excretion (the LE rat). As minor metabolites, monoglucosiduronates of 2α,3α- and 3α,7α-dihydroxy-5α-androstan-17-ones and 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, monosulphate of 3α,15α-dihydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one, and disulphates of 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, 5α-androstane-3α, 7α,17β-triol and 5α-androstane-3α,15β,17β-triol were isolated in both HE and LE rats. In contrast, variations were not so marked in the testosterone sulphate metabolites. 5α-Androstane-3α,17β-diol disulphate and 5α-androstane-3α,7β,17β)-triol monosulphate were the major metabolites. In addition, monosulphate of 5α(-androstane-3α,17β-diol, and disulphates of 5α-androstane-3α,7β,17β-triol and 5α-androstane-3α,15β,17β-triol were identified. Small amounts of 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol were found in the sulphoglucosiduronate fraction in both testosterone and testosterone sulphate administered rats.