Steroid analysis of human apocrine secretion.

Analysis of the secretion of the human apocrine gland has shown the presence of dehydroepiandrosterone and androsterone sulfates, two androgen steroids previously identified in axillary sweat. These steroid sulfates were characterized by the gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of the odorous steroids formed on direct injection of the apocrine secretion into the host gas chromatographic injector. No spectral evidence was found for the presence of the delta16-androgen steroids which have axillary-like odors and have also been reported in axillary sweat. Cholesterol was the major steroid component of the secretion.