EXTRACTION OF STEROID CONJUGATES FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

The extraction of radioactive steroid conjugates from 0.3 M pyridinium sulfate in water or urine by various solvents was studied quantitatively. The pure conjugates examined included the sulfates of dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, and estrone, and the glucuronides of dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone. Biological conjugate mixtures were prepared by injection of progesterone, estradiol-17β, hydrocortisone, and 11β-hydroyandrost-4-ene-3, 17-dione into humans, rabbits, or baboons, and collection of urine for appropriate intervals. Extraction of the pyridinium sulfate solution by chloroform/ethyl acetate ( 10 1) was efficient for the pure model conjugates tested. The more complex biological conjugate mixtures were best extracted with chloroform/tert-butanol ( 5 1) except for the hydrocortisone metabolites which required chloroform/n-butanol ( 4 1). The extracts were appreciably cleaner than those obtained with the widely used ether/ethanol procedure. © 1969.