Quantitative Analysis of Ketosteroids by Means of Paper Chromatography

IN a previous paper 1 we described a method for the detection of small amounts of ketosteroids on chromatograms by means of DNPH. The subsequent removal of the background colour enables the use of this method for quantitative analysis, as previously suggested. A satisfactory solvent system, by which the hydrazones were eluted from strips and then determined by spectro-photometry, was found. The procedure described here requires little time, and is suitable for routine estimations. We have used this method in metabolic investigations in vitro as well as for measurement of the progesterone concentration in sheep's ovarian venous blood. In both cases very satisfactory results were obtained.