17-Deoxygenation: a new pathway of cortisol metabolism. Isolation of 17-deoxycortolonic acids

The existence of a 17-deoxylation pathway in the metabolism of cortisol has been established by isolation of two 17-deoxy metabolites of cortisol. They have been identified as the 20alpha and 20beta-hydroxy isomers of 3alpha,20-dihydroxy, 11-oxo-5beta-pregnan-21-oic acids by comparison of the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (nmr) and high resolution mass spectra of their methyl esters with authentic samples and confirmed by reverse isotope dilution.