A stereochemical examination of the equine metabolism of 17α-methyltestosterone

An investigation was conducted into the stereochemistry of the equine urinary metabolites of 17α-methyltestosterone observed after oral administration. Standards of the complete range of C3/C5/C16 stereoisomeric 17α-methylandrostane-3,17β-diols, 17α-methylandrostane-3,16,17β-triols and 17α-hydroxymethylandrostane-3,17β-diols were purchased or synthesised, and were used to unequivocally identify the absolute structures of the metabolites. Phase I metabolism was found to involve combinations of Δ4-3-ketone reduction with both 5α,3β- and 5β,3α-stereochemistry, hydroxylation at C16 with both 16α- and 16β-stereochemistry and hydroxylation of the 17α-methyl substituent. Phase II metabolism involved mainly sulfation with a lesser degree of β-glucuronidation.