A new approach to the characterization of steroids containing the 17-alpha-ketol side chain

Thin-layer chromatography--the forgotten alternative for the quantitative determination of steroids

We have developed a high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) system for quantitative determination of androgens, corticosteroids, mineralocorticoids and gestagens on silicagel KG-60 HPTLC-plates with different solvent systems. A complete separation of androgens, gestagens and metabolites was achieved with dichlormethane/cyclohexane/acetone (70:25:5). Corticosteroids, mineralocorticoids and their derivatives were completely separated with diethylether/isooctane/isopropanol (70:25:5). The quantitative in situ fluorescence determination was carried out after post-chromatographic derivatization with cinnamic aldehyde, 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and sulfuric acid. The sensitivity of detection was found between 500 pg and 1 ng per spot. The steroid metabolism as catalysed by rat liver microsomal oxidoreductases was measured by these procedures, and was compared with determination of steroids by gas chromatography (GC). According to HPTLC, steroids were reduced by NADPH-5 alpha-reductase (EC 1.3.1.4) in the order progesterone greater than testosterone greater than aldosterone greater than cortisol greater than corticosterone. The enzyme activities as measured by HPTLC agree well with those obtained by GC (r = 0.94). When turnover of enzyme assays, speed of determination, detection limit, application to labile steroids and costs of steroid determination are considered, all points speak in favour of HPTLC.

The partial characterization of 1-oxygenated steroids from urine of a hypertensive newborn child

1. Four substances from the urine of a hypertensive newborn girl were partially characterized and shown to be 17alpha-hydroxy-5beta-pregnane-1,3,20-trione, 3alpha,17alpha-dihydroxy-5beta-pregnane-1,20-dione, 3alpha,17alpha,20alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-pregnan-1-one and 5beta-pregnane-1beta,3alpha,17alpha,20alpha-tetrol. 2. The characterization rested mainly on R(M) analysis of the substances and their derivatives by glycol fission, providing evidence for position and degree of substitution and for steroidal character. Supporting evidence was provided by chemically specific location reactions. 3. Certain problems in the manipulation of these beta-disubstituted steroids are discussed.