DETERMINATION OF SOLVOLYSED SULPHATE ESTERS OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AND ANDROSTERONE IN HUMAN PERIPHERAL PLASMA BY GAS-LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

SUMMARY A gas—liquid chromatographic method is described for the routine determination as the chloromethyldimethylsilyl ethers of plasma dehydroepiandrosterone and androsterone obtained after solvolysis of a steroid sulphate fraction. 5α-Dihydrotestosterone sulphate is used as an internal standard. The levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and androsterone sulphate have been measured in 61 males and 66 females aged 20 days to 91 yr. The steroid levels show an abrupt rise at the age of about 7 yr. and reach a peak between the ages of 20 and 30 yr. Thereafter they fall with advancing age. The mean level of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate is significantly higher in adult men than in women but the mean level of androsterone sulphate is similar.