Fig. 2.

Comparison of glucuronidated and unconjugated androgens in contents of small and distal intestine of mice with normal gut microbiota. Unconjugated (free) and glucuronidated (gluc) androgen levels were measured by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in different parts of the intestine, serum, and liver of 8-wk-old C57BL/6 mice. A–D: dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in males (A and B) and females (C and D). E–H: testosterone (T) in males (E and F) and females (G and H). I–L: the androgen precursor androstenedione (A-dione) in males (I and J) and females (K and L). Values are shown as means ± SE; n = 7 mice. ND, not detectable; dotted horizontal line denotes the corresponding serum free level. In serum the unit of measurement is picograms per milliliter. To compare cecum and colon with small intestine, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test was employed. *P < 0.05 vs. small intestine.