Effect of Steroid Administration on Excretion of $aL -Ketolic Steroids and Sulfur in Cats

Abstract

Summary

1. Administration of Δ¹-cortisone and 9$aL-fluorohydrocortisone changes normal urinary excretion of steroid metabolites, indicating adrenal depression or altered steroid metabolism. 2. Only a small proportion of administered 9$aL-fluorohydrocortisone is excreted as $aL-ketolic metabolites; Δ¹-cortisone also is converted to a great extent to non-$aL-ketolic elements. 3. Elemental sulfur has been found to give a positive reaction with blue tetrazolium. This interferes with the quantitative determination of $aL-ketols in extracts of cat urines. 4. The $aL-ketols and sulfur can be separated by chromatography and each determined quantitatively by the blue tetrazolium reaction, using a modified method. 5. Administration of Δ¹E and 9$aL-fluorohydrocortisone causes an increase in urinary excretion of sulfur-containing compounds in cats, which leads us to conclude that these steroids alter sulfur metabolism.