title: Identification of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 alpha-diol in adrenal venous plasma of female possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).
abstract: Two hitherto unidentified C19 steroids were isolated from adrenal venous blood plasma of female possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). They were 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 alpha-diol and its isomer 5 beta-androstane-3 alpha,17 alpha-diol. The compounds were isolated and identified by fractionation on paper chromatograms and HPLC, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after conversion to trimethylsilyl ethers. In adrenal venous plasma the concentrations of the 5 alpha-isomer ranged from 24-71 micrograms/100 ml, 47.5 +/- 7.7 (mean +/- SEM) and of the 5 beta-isomer 1.5-9.3 micrograms/100 ml, 5.6 +/- 1.6 (mean +/- SEM). In peripheral plasma only the 5 alpha-derivative was detectable, the highest concentration being 0.97 microgram/100 ml. The reduced steroids were not detected in the plasma of a male possum, confirming previous in vitro evidence that reduced steroids are products of the adrenocortical special zone which is found only in the female.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Edgar
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Than
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000098:blood supply*; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000097:blood*; D000732:Androstanols / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008297:Male; D009893:Opossums / Q000097:blood*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol