Separation by thin-layer chromatography of the most common androgen-derived C19 steroids formed by mammalian cells

Several methods have been developed in the past for the separation and identification of closely related steroid hormones. Although these methods are effective, most of them use HPLC-derived systems and are expensive, laborious, or time-consuming. In the course of our studies of the metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione in tissues, we have modified a previously published technique in such a way that in one TLC step we can separate most of the androgen C19 steroid derivatives produced by mammalian cells. We have used this modified technique for the past 2 years with considerable success and reproducible results, and we find it to be rapid and relatively inexpensive.