Excretion Patterns of 17-Ketosteroids and 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids in Surgical Stress

Quantitative determinations of urinary 17-ketosteroids (17-KS) and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) were made in 17 males and 8 females before and for 7 days following moderate to major surgery. The operation caused a marked rise in the excretion of total 17-OHCS. On the other hand, a significant decrease in the excretion of the total 17-KS was found following surgery. The postoperative decrease resulted from a significant decrease in the excretion of C 19 O 2 - 17-KS, since the urinary C 19 O 3 -17-KS remained almost unchanged following the operation. The postoperative decrease was shown to be of a higher degree in males since the decrease in the excretion of aetiocholanolone and androsterone was more marked in males than in females. Contrary to this, the excretion of both C 19 O 3 -17-KS and C 19 O 2 -17-KS increased following ACTH injection. From the result, it seems justifiable to assume that the secretion of androgen from the testes may decrease rapidly following operation. It was also demonstrated that the ratio of aetiocholanolone to androsterone increased postoperatively as did the ratio of THF to alloTHF. Furthermore, the ratios of THE to THF and E to F were found to be significantly decreased following surgery.