Comparison of metabolites of progesterone-4-14C in urine from a nonpregnant domestic sow

Characterization of metabolites in domestic sow urine after intravenous administration of radioactive estrogen and corticosteroids

We measured distribution of radioactivity among urinary metabolites excreted in nonpregnant and ovariectomized sows after intravenous injection of radionuclides (14carbon) labeled estrone, estradiol-17beta, cortisol, and corticosterone. Treatment with an enzyme preparation (Glusulase) containing both beta-glucuronidase and sulfatase activity, rendered extractable over 95% of the radioactivity recovered from urine with diethyl ether (estrogens) and ethyl acetate (corticoids). Only an additional 1 to 4% of the radioactivity was extracted following solvolysis of the aqueous residue remaining after enzyme hydrolysis and extraction. Radioactivity in nonpregnant sow urine was predominantly in the estrone fraction following injection of either estrone or estradiol-17beta. Moreover, the principal metabolite was estrone monoglucuronide. Only traces of estradiol-17beta and an estriol-like compound were detected. Two other isolates contained radioactivity. One compound probably was 2-methoxyestrone, but structure of the other compound (X1) could not be established. The principal urinary metabolites from injection of cortisol corresponded to chromatographic properties of tetrahydrocortisol and tetrahydrocortisone. Both metabolites were low in urine following injection of corticosterone. The major urinary metabolites from corticosterone injection corresponded to chromatographic properties of tetrahydrocorticosterone and corticosterone. Considerable radioactivity from injection of both corticoids was isolated in the cortol, cortolone, and 11-ketoetiocholanolone - 11beta-hydroxyetiocholanolone areas of chromatograms. The data for corticoids agree with similar data for the human being and cow.