Steroid metabolism in the cat. Biliary and urinary excretion of metabolites of [4-14C]cortisone.

1. [4-(14)C]Cortisone was administered to anaesthetized male cats as a single injection or as a 45-60min. infusion. 2. After the single dose a total of 69.6-89.6% of the radioactivity was excreted in bile, and 0.5-7.1% in urine. After infusion total recovery in bile was 73.4-92.1%, and 1.2-1.7% in urine. 3. When bile and urine samples were hydrolysed successively by beta-glucuronidase, cold acid and hot acid, most of the radioactivity was converted into substances not extractable from neutral aqueous solution by ethyl acetate-ether. 4. In bile, metabolites hydrolysable by beta-glucuronidase were found in only small proportions (3-4%) of the dose.