Comparison of 16-androstene steroid concentrations in sterile apocrine sweat and
axillary secretions: interconversions of 16-androstenes by the axillary microflora--a
mechanism for axillary odour production in man?

Gower DB, Holland KT, Mallet AI, Rennie PJ, Watkins WJ.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry (Steroid Laboratory), London Hospital Medical College, England.

The concentrations of five 16-androstene steroids were determined, by a GC-MS method, in freshly-produced apocrine sweat (adrenaline-induced), in 8 men and 2 women. The ranges of concentrations (nmol/microliter) in
apocrine sweat were: 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3-one (5 alpha-A), 0.1-2.0 and 4,16-androstadien-3-one
(androstadienone), 0-1.9, 5,16-Androstadien-3 beta-ol (androstadienol) was also found in 5 of the subjects (range
0.05-1.05). 5 alpha-Androst-16-en-3 alpha- or 3 beta-ols [3 alpha (beta)-androstenols] were only found in small
amounts (< 0.1 nmol/microliters) in a few subjects.