The indirect analysis of 17-oxosteroid glucosiduronates and sulphates in human urine.

1. An analytical procedure has been developed for the determination of urinary 17-oxosteroid sulphates and 11-deoxy-17-oxosteroid glucosiduronates. 2. By submitting urine to the following operations: (a) extraction of the 17-oxosteroid conjugates into chloroform (in the presence of pyridinium sulphate), (b) solvolysis (in the absence of acid) of the steroid sulphates, (c) separation of the steroid glucosiduronates, (d) hydrolysis of the glucosiduronates, (e) oxidation with tert.-butyl chromate of the liberated steroids and (f) analysis of the final extracts by gas-liquid chromatography, the 17-oxosteroid conjugates are converted into and measured as androstanediones and androstane-(ene)triones. 3. Values for the daily excretion of 17-oxosteroid glucosiduronates and sulphates in normal men and women are given.