Lymphatic absorption and metabolism of orally administered testosterone undecanoate in man

[3H]-testosterone undecanoate ([3H]TU) was administered orally to 4 patients with a thoracic duct catheter after neck dissection surgery. Appearance of radioactivity in lymph, plasma and urine was measured at different times. Metabolites of TU in these fluids were investigated. Peak levels of radioactivity appeared simultaneously in lymph and plasma (2.5-5 h after administration) while the excretion in urine was highest approximately 2 h after the plasma and lymph peak. The main compounds appearing in the lymph were TU and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone undecanoate (5alpha-DHTU), but 5beta-DHTU could not be detected. In plasma almost all metabolites were probably conjugated. During the first 24 h approximately 40% of the administered radioactivity was excreted in the urine. The total amount of radioactivity excreted in the urine during the first week was 45-48%. The predominant urinary metabolites were testosterone- and androsterone-glucuronide. The results indicate that TU is metabolized partly in the intestinal wall. The remaining TU and newly-formed 5alpha-DHTU, at least partly, are absorbed via the lymphatic system.