Gas chromatographic analysis of urinary 17-ketosteroids response to gonadotrophin and ACTH in young and old persons.

Abstract By means of gas-chromatographic analysis the behaviour has been studied of pregnandiol, etiocholanolone, androsterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and of urinary 17-ketosteroids in young and aged males, after stimulus with ACTH, adrenal inhibition obtained by desametazone + stimulus with chorionic gonadotrophins. After ACTH, total urinary 17-ketosteroids increased in aged persons in a lower amount as compared to young ones. On the contrary, dehydroepiandrosterone did not increase in aged subjects after stimulus with ACTH. The inhibition of the adrenal gland obtained by desametazone has given equal responses in the two groups. After gonadotrophine stimulus, total urinary 17-ketosteroids increased in a lower amount in aged subjects as compared to controls.