A Simple Method of Estimating Urinary Steroid Hormones Centering Around the Enzyme Group

β-glncuronidase, hydrolysate and solvolysate as the main enzyme group in the urinary hormones of steroids were measured and the enzyme work and the enzyme pattern as proposed by Yoshida of our laboratory were studied. The results are summarized as follows. 1. From the metabolic processes of urinary steroid hormones a simple method of estimating urinary steroid hormones was devised on the basis of the concept of the related enzyme work and enzyme patterns. 2. For the simple estimation two fractions, 17-KS and 17-KGS, as well as 17-OHCS, blue tetrozolium chromogen, pregnanetriol and pregnanediol to the total of 8 fractions were measured, and the work of related enzymes and the enzyme patterns were calculated subsequently. This method, when compared with the method of estimating 38 fractions, is found to attain fairly satis-factory results and it has been demonstrated to be applicable in clinical practice. 3. As for the enzyme work during the mestrual cycle 17-, 21-, 11-hydroxylated steroids and desmolated steroids all tended to be high before and after ovulation, low at the prolifetation stage, and somewhat high at the secretory stage. 4. As for the enzyme patterns during the menstrual cycle, the patterns of 11-and 21-hydroxylase both showed their peak in the middle of the proliferation stage, and by the desmolase pattern it increased somewhat before and after the ovulation. In the 17-hydroxylase pattern there could be observed no appreciable change. 5. As for the enzyme work during pregnancy the work of desmolated steroids and 17-hydroxylated steroids decreased in the third trimester of pregnancy, but the work of 11-and2l-hydroxylated steroids did not show any change due to pregnancy. 6. Regarding the enzyme pattern during pregnancy due to an acute increase of pregnanediol in the third trimester there chuld be observed a tendency of relative decrease in all these enzyme pattens. However, excepting those steroids producd and metabolized by feto-placental units such as pregnanediol and estriol, all the steroids-related enzyme group of maternal origin showed practically stablized enzyme work and pattern without any disturbance. 7. It is safe to say that this simple method of estimating steroid hormones in urine would serve sufficiently in the elucidation of pathogenesis, especially of the endocrinal diseases in future