[Decomposition of steroids during incubation with beta-glucuronidase and during storage of urine]

Androsterone, etiocholanolone, pregnanetriol, dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnanediol, tetrahydrocortisol, 5-pregnenolone and 11-beta-OH-androsterone were incubated with beta-glucuronidase preparations (Helix pomatia, bovine liver and E. coli) for 96 hrs at 37 degrees C. After extraction and silylation they were gas-chromatographed. The first 3 steroids were left practically intact. The least decomposition of the last 5 steroids occurred with the liver enzyme. Testosterone and 11-ketoandrosterone without the enzymes showed 74 and 35% recoveries. Cortisol and tetrahydrocortisol, incubated with the first two enzymes for 18 hrs at 37 degrees and 48 degrees C, showed nearly 100% recoveries. The recoveries of 17-OHCS in urines (pH 7.8-8.8), stored for 7 days, was 80% at 20 degrees-25 degrees C and 55% at 25 degrees-30 degrees C. The same samples, brought to pH 1.8-2.8 WITH NaHSO4 before the storage, showed a 100% recovery.