METABOLISM OF THE STEROID HORMONES: THE ISOLATION OF AN ANDROSTENOL-3(α)-17-ONE, AN ANDROGEN, FROM THE URINE OF A GIRL SUFFERING FROM VIRILISM1

Abstract

WOLFE, FIESEK AND FRIEDGOOD (1941) isolated an androstenol-3(α)-17-one from the urine of a ten-year-old girl who was suffering from a malignant adrenocortical tumor. The evidence presented by these investigarors did not establish the position of the double bond, but indicated that it was in one of four positions: 6,7-, 7,8-, 9,11-, or 11,12-. They isolated this substance in a concentration of 8 mg. per liter. We have been able to isolate the same androstenol-3(α)-17-one from the urine of a woman suffering from virilism, and to show that this substance is an androgen. The patient (Wisconsin General Hospital, No. 127483) was first seen at age 17½ years because of primary amenorrhea and a suspicion of masculine traits. An older sister had a very similar condition and had been studied in the same hospital a few years earlier. The important features on physical examination were a rather large and square type of jaw, heavy musculature about the neck and shoulders, lack of mammary development; there was slight h...