High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Specrometry Validation of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate in Products of Pork Origin and Serum

Different extraction and purification methods are described here to determine medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in pork meat and serum. Spiked samples are investigated over the concentration range of MPA 0.5-20 ng/g. Pork meat tissues are subjected to extraction using organic solvent, and pork serum is simply diluted with acetate buffer. Clean-up is performed using solid-phase extraction on a C18 cartridge, and MPA is eluted with ethanol. Aliquots are injected into a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system. MPA content is determined on the basis of m/z 387-327 and 387-123 transitions.

Changes in anabolic and catabolic activity among women taking part in an alternative labour market programme

Thirty-two female participants in a mobilising labour market programme offering temporary, alternative employment in Sweden were followed longitudinally for one year, including a six month post participation follow-up period. It can be hypothesised that an important aspect of the physiological effects of unemployment is a change in the balance between anabolic and catabolic activities in the body and that re-employment should lead to a shift towards anabolism. An earlier study of a smaller subset of the data, however, including both men and women, showed increased prolactin and decreased dehydroepiadrosterone sulphate (DHEA-s) levels, contrary to the initial hypothesis. In the present analysis, intended to elucidate these results, psychophysiological data were summarised in two indices, one connected with anabolism (made up of testosterone and DHEA-s) and one with catabolism (prolactin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, aspartate amino transferase, alpha levuline amino transferase, and body mass index). In addition, self-rated anxiety, depression, hopelessness and personal control were analysed. The results indicate that the effect of 'better' activities within the programme was a temporary increase in anabolism, possibly indicating lower stress levels, and the effect of 'worse' activities, on the one hand, a temporary decrease in the catabolic index, probably reflecting repressed alcohol consumption, and, on the other hand, impaired anabolism. There was also a general but transient decrease in depressiveness measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The results seem to imply that it is difficult to achieve lasting effects through a relatively short participation in a mobilising programme.

Measures of aggression and mood changes in male weightlifters with and without androgenic anabolic steroid use

Supraphysiologic doses of testosterone are associated with increased aggression that is hypothesized to be a function of testosterone serum concentrations, mood, and personality. The study attempted to characterize this relationship among weightlifters who were users (n = 10) and nonusers (n = 18) of anabolic steroids. Participants were interviewed using the Modified Mania Rating Scale and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression to assess mood, the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI) and Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP) to assess aggression, and the Personality Disorder Questionnaire (PDQ-R) to assess personality. Blood samples were obtained for the determination of total, free, and weakly bound testosterone. Comparisons of continuous variables between testosterone users and non-users were performed with a parametric (unpaired t-test) or non-parametric (Mann-Whitney) test where appropriate. Correlations with testosterone were examined separately for testosterone users and non-users, using Spearman rank correlation. The subjective (BDHI) and objective (PSAP) assessments of aggression found that supranormal testosterone concentrations were associated with increased aggression. However, the PDQ-R results suggest that this finding was confounded by the personality disorder profile of the steroid users, because steroid users demonstrated Cluster B personality disorder traits for antisocial, borderline, and histrionic personality disorder.

Highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of a new bone anabolic agent, TAK-778, in human serum

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS-MS) method for the highly sensitive determination of a new bone-anabolic agent, TAK-778 in human serum was developed. The internal standard (I.S.) used was deuterated TAK-778. TAK-778 and I.S. were extracted from serum samples with diethyl ether at neutral pH. A turbo ion spray interface was used as the ion source of LC-MS-MS, and the analysis was performed in the selected reaction monitoring mode. The lower limit of quantification was 0.02 ng/ml when 0.4 ml of serum was used, and the standard curve was linear in the range of 0.02-10 ng/ml. The method was precise; the intra- and inter-day precision of the method was not more than 17.9%. The accuracy of the method was good with the deviations between added and calculated concentration of TAK-778 being typically within 9.0%.

Effects of adjuvant androgen on anemia and nutritional parameters in chronic hemodialysis patients using low-dose recombinant human erythropoietin

BACKGROUND

Recombiant human erythropoietin (epoetin) has greatly contributed to improvement of the anemia of chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis. However, the reduced erythropoietic effect to epoetin and its high cost have induced lots of supplementary treatments. Therefore, we performed a prospective study to evaluate the effects of adjuvant low-dose androgen therapy in patients using a lower-dose of epoetin than the commonly recommended dose on anemia and the nutritional parameters.

METHODS

17 patients of hemoglobin (Hgb) less than 9 g/dL even after being treated with 1,000 U epoetin subcutaneously (s.c.) 3 times per week on a stable status for more than 6 months, who were on hemodialysis at our institution were examined. They were injected with the same dose of epoetin s.c. and nandrolone decanoate 100 mg intramuscularly (i.m.) weekly for another 6 months. Blood test was performed every month before therapy for 6 months and after therapy for 6 months and the mean values were reviewed for comparison.

RESULTS

Hgb (7.75 +/- 0.9 vs 8.99 +/- 1.39 g/dL, p < 0.01) and hematocrit (Hct) (23.68 +/- 2.85 vs 26.66 +/- 3.91%, p < 0.01) were apparently changed before and after adjuvant therapy. Hgb and Hct, weekly dose of epoetin were not statistically different in 9 male patients before and after adjuvant therapy. The weekly dose of epoetin was not statistically different in 8 female patients, but Hgb and Hct (8.02 +/- 0.6 vs 9.72 +/- 1.31 g/dL, 24.54 +/- 1.7 vs 28.74 +/- 3.06%, p < 0.01) were statistically different before and after adjuvant therapy. In comparison between male and female groups, weekly doses of epoetin and nandrolone decanoate were significantly greater in the female group than the male group (epoetin: 50.66 +/- 6.23 vs 61.18 +/- 8.76 U/kg/week, nandrolone decanoate: 1.69 +/- 0.2 vs 2.04 +/- 0.29 mg/kg/week, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our data show that the adjuvant androgen therapy is effective for the anemia of hemodialysis patients who did not recover from anemia even after being continuously treated with low-dose epoetin.

Validation of the determination of oxymetholone in human plasma analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Application to pharmacokinetic studies

A simple and rapid procedure for extraction of oxymetholone in human plasma using gas chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometric was evaluated. The method involves analyte extraction with tert.-butylmethylether after alkalinization of the plasma and derivatization with MSTFA-NH(4)I-2-mercaptoethanol before the high resolution gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry separation. Methyltestosterone was used as internal standard. The calibration curves were linear, with typical r(2) values >0.995 and F(table)>F(calculated) (alpha=0.05). Recovery from plasma proved to be more than 70%. The method was accurate and reproducible, and was successfully applied to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of oxymetholone for healthy volunteers after oral administration of 50 mg of the compound. The (C(max)) and (T(max)) were 18.8 +/- 0.4 ng/ml and 210 +/- 42.4 min, respectively.

Body composition, sex steroids, IGF-1, and bone mineral status in aging men

BACKGROUND

Bone loss in elderly men is associated with changes in body composition and reduced secretion of endogenous anabolizing hormones. The independent influences of body composition and endocrine factors on male bone metabolism, however, are unclear.

METHODS

Bone mass density (BMD) (bone mass content [BMC, g]/projected bone area [BA, cm2]) at different skeletal sites, skeletal muscle, and body fat mass were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 129 men aged 20 to 95 years. Free testosterone, 17-beta-estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) serum concentrations were measured. Because BMD may fail to control for differences in skeletal size, the associations of bone mass with body composition and hormones were studied by comparing BMD regression models incorporating age and knee height only with BMC regression models also incorporating BA.

RESULTS

Skeletal muscle had close associations (p at least < .01) with BMD and BMC at almost all skeletal sites, but the strength of these associations was generally reduced in BMC with respect to BMD models. Weak associations (p < .05) were found in both models for fatness with femoral bone and for 17-beta-estradiol with total body and femoral bone. The association of 17-beta-estradiol with spinal bone was significant (p < .05) in the BMD but not in the BMC model. No association of BMC or BMD with androgens and IGF-1 reached significancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Skeletal muscle may be more important than fatness and anabolizing hormones in preserving bone mass in elderly men. In contrast to traditional belief, estrogens may be more important than androgens and IGF-1 in male bone metabolism.

Estradiol causes a dose-dependent stimulation of prostate growth in castrated beagle dogs

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that chronic treatment of castrate dogs with androgen and estrogen results in significant prostate growth. Estrogen treatment of castrate dogs in the absence of androgen has resulted in conflicting data as reported by several authors. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of a physiological dose of estradiol on prostate growth in dogs, using ultrasound to study size changes over time.

METHODS

Dogs (n = 25) were randomly divided into groups (n = 5) and treated as follows: castration alone (CC), castration plus low dose estradiol (E(2) low), castration plus high estradiol (E(2) high), castration plus estradiol and androstanediol (E(2)A), or no treatment (normal controls, NC). Silastic implants containing 5alpha-androstan-3alpha-17beta-diol (3alphadiol), and/or 17beta-estradiol were used for continous delivery of steroids. Prostate volume was measured by transrectal ultrasonography, and blood was drawn for hormone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) determinations.

RESULTS

Results show that serum estradiol and SHBG levels were fairly constant over 12 weeks in all groups. Estradiol-treated groups had mean serum estradiol values of approximately 40 and 60 pg/ml, respectively. Initially, all groups had similar prostate volumes. Over 12 weeks the castrate dogs had a decline in prostate volume, whereas the intact dogs and those treated with E(2) and 3alpha-diol maintained a constant prostate volume. Estradiol treatment caused a large, late onset (week 7), dose-dependent increase in prostate volume relative to the intact group (P < 0.01). At 12 weeks, animals were euthanized and prostates weighed. The mean prostate weights in each group were: NC 14.8 +/- 2. 9, CC 2.4 +/- 0.5, E(2)A 9.7 +/- 2.0, E(2) low 21.7 +/- 4.3, and E(2) high 63.6 +/- 12.6 g (geometric mean +/- SEM). Histologically, prostates of estrogen-treated dogs showed metaplastic squamous epithelium.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that estradiol causes marked dose-dependent stimulation of prostate growth in the castrate dog.

Quantitation of anabolic hormones and their metabolites in bovine serum and urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A specific and sensitive method based on tandem mass spectrometry with on-line high-performance liquid chromatography using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (LC-APCI-MS-MS) for the quantitation of anabolic hormone residues (17beta-19-nortestosterone, 17beta-testosterone and progesterone) and their major metabolites (17alpha-19-nortestosterone and 17alpha-testosterone) in bovine serum and urine is reported. [2H2]17Beta-testosterone was used as internal standard. The analytes were extracted from urine (following enzymatic hydrolysis) and serum samples by liquid-liquid extraction and purified by C18 solid-phase extraction. Ionisation was performed in a heated nebulizer interface operating in the positive ion mode, where only the protonated molecule, [M+H]+, was generated for each analyte. This served as precursor ion for collision-induced dissociation and two diagnostic product ions for each analyte were identified for the unambiguous hormone confirmation by selected reaction monitoring LC-MS-MS. The overall inter-day precision (relative standard deviation) ranged from 6.37 to 2.10% and from 6.25 to 2.01%, for the bovine serum and urine samples, respectively, while the inter-day accuracy (relative error) ranged from -5.90 to -3.18% and from -6.40 to -2.97%, for the bovine serum and urine samples, respectively. The limit of quantitation of the method was 0.1 ng/ml for all the hormones in bovine serum and urine. On account of its high sensitivity and specificity the method has been successfully used to confirm illegal hormone administration for regulatory purposes.

Hair analysis and detectability of single dose administration of androgenic steroid esters

Detection of anabolic steroids in hair samples has been possible only in fatal cases or in cases of high-continuous dosages. In order to verify the possibility of detecting an acute administration, a sensitive and specific assay has been developed for the simultaneous determination of testosterone, nandrolone and some of their esters in hair. The analytes were extracted from finely cut hair with methanol-trifluoroacetic acid overnight. After the incubation, the mixture was evaporated to dryness, redissolved and extracted with hexane. The dried organic layer was silanised and analysed by GC-MS and GC-MS-MS. A sensitivity of at least 20 pg injected was obtained for all the analytes. In guinea pigs treated with a single intramuscular dose of 10 mg/kg nandrolone decanoate, neither nandrolone decanoate nor nandrolone were found in hair collected after 13 days, while both compounds were clearly detectable after four repeated doses (each dose every 3-4 days) of 20 mg/kg nandrolone decanoate. Neither nandrolone decanoate nor nandrolone could be detected in hair from a male healthy volunteer 1 month after treatment with 50 mg nandrolone decanoate, while his urine still tested highly positive for the main nandrolone metabolite (> 100 ng/ml). Testosterone esters could not be detected in hair of healthy subjects collected respectively 3, 2 and 1 month after a single intramuscular administration of 250 mg testosterone enanthate (five subjects), a single intramuscular coadministration of 25 mg testosterone propionate plus 110 mg testosterone enanthate (one subject), or a single oral administration of 120 mg testosterone undecanoate (three subjects). Otherwise, hair analysis revealed an increase of testosterone concentration corresponding to the period of treatment. Analysis of blood and urine samples confirmed the absorption of those compounds. At the sensitivity achieved by the present method, no detection of nandrolone, nandrolone decanoate nor testosteron esters in hair seems to be obvious after a single dose administration.

Measurement of 19-nortestosterone and its esters in equine plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A high-performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC/MS/MS) method for the determination of 19-nortestosterone and its esters (cyclopentanepropionate, phenylpropionate, and decanoate) in equine plasma is achieved using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The two internal standards used were 16,16, 17-(2)H(3)-19-nortestosterone for 19-nortestosterone and methenolone acetate for its esters. The steroids studied were extracted from plasma samples with a mixture of diethyl ether/n-hexane (9:1, v/v). The quantification limits for 19-nortestosterone, 19-nortestosterone cyclopentanepropionate, 19-nortestosterone phenylpropionate, and 19-nortestosterone decanoate were 0.16, 5.0, 0.1, and 2.0 ng/mL, respectively, when 2 mL of plasma were used. The recoveries of most of the steroids were 71.6-101.0% except for the decanoate, which could be recovered to about 39.8%. The responses were linear, with correlation coefficients varying from 0.9897 to 0.9999 in the concentration range of 0.1 to 50.0 ng/mL for the steroids studied. When applied to equine (mare) plasma samples, the present method allowed detection of 19-nortestosterone up to 23 days after an intra-muscular injection of 400 mg as the decanoate.

Accuracy in naturally occurring anabolic steroid assays in cattle and first approach to quality control in Italy

This study assessed the accuracy of 16 commercial and three self-produced kits and drew the basis for using an external quality control (EQC) system. The commercial kits were mainly developed for blood sex steroid determination in humans but also have been used in cattle. Parallelism, recovery and precision tests were performed for progesterone (P4), testosterone (T) and oestradiol (E2) assays. Moreover, anonymous QC samples were sent to be analysed to some Italian laboratories. All kits showed a fair degree of parallelism (P < 0.01), even though 2/7 kits for T and 1/6 kits for E2 determination showed a regression coefficient (r2) lower than 0.98. For P4, an acceptable range of accuracy was achieved in the recovery test only by 1/6 kits; two kits showed fair or great overestimation and two kits considerable underestimation. For T, an acceptable range of accuracy was achieved only by 1/7 kits. For E2, 4/6 kits presented a variable degree of underestimation and two kits showed great overestimation. In the intra-assay precision test quite good repeatability was achieved only using samples with high hormone concentrations. While assaying samples with low concentrations we found a number of RSD > 10%. Moreover, the laboratories participating in the EQC produced statistically different (P < 0.05) results, particularly for high and medium concentrations. In conclusion, the use of commercial kits for screening naturally occurring sex steroid concentrations in cattle blood, in the case of suspected illegal treatments, requires preventive validation procedures and the development of an opportune EQC system.

Determination of oestrogen concentrations in bovine plasma by a recombinant oestrogen receptor-reporter gene yeast bioassay

A recombinant cell yeast bioassay (RCBA) was applied to the generic measurement of bovine plasma oestrogen concentration. Samples were prepared by diethyl ether extraction of plasma following addition of [3H]17 beta-oestradiol as internal standard; organic and aqueous phases were separated by freezing (recovery 97.1 +/- 0.7%) and dried extract reconstituted in culture medium (recovery 31.4 +/- 4.5%). Plasma oestrogen concentrations were measured by incubation of extracts with yeast containing a stable human oestrogen receptor (hER) and a reporter construct comprising an hER response element regulating beta-galactosidase expression. The linearity of response for the analysis of spiked plasma samples using the RCBA, following corrections, is described by y = 0.8994x - 0.111 (r2 = 0.9776, P < 0.0001). Inter-assay variation for endogenous oestrogen was 11.5% for > 1 pg ml-1. Plasma oestrogen concentrations for intact (n = 5) and castrated (n = 3) males were < 0.5 pg ml-1, and 3.7 +/- 2.6 pg ml-1 for luteal phase females (n = 10). Analysis by RCBA of sequential samples from heifers during the reproductive cycle failed to detect the pre-ovulatory increase in plasma 17 beta-oestradiol as determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) (maximal concentrations 2.09 +/- 2.1 pg ml-1 and 32.6 +/- 14.6 pg ml-1, respectively). Interestingly, when samples were hydrolysed using Helix pomatia glucuronidase the RCBA gave concentrations (29.5 +/- 8.9 pg ml-1) not significantly different to those obtained by RIA. These preliminary findings suggest that a substantial proportion of plasma oestrogen during the pre-ovulatory period may be conjugated. These data indicate the potential of the RCBA to measure biologically active and physiological levels of plasma oestrogens in cattle. One potentially valuable application of this generic oestrogen assay could be in surveillance programmes to detect illegal use of anabolic oestrogens in live-stock where the identity of the analyte may be unknown.

Probenecid markedly reduces urinary excretion of ethinylestradiol and trimethoprim slightly reduces urinary excretion of clenbuterol

This study investigated whether the illegal application of ethinylestradiol or clenbuterol in cattle as growth promotors may be concealed by co-treatment with drugs that affect urinary excretion. Therefore, six male veal calves were fed with ethinylestradiol and six different male veal calves were fed with clenbuterol for 13 days. Both groups received the growth promotors twice daily (days -2 to 11) with milk replacer. The calves receiving ethinylestradiol were additionally fed with probenecid on days 7-11, and the calves receiving clenbuterol were additionally fed with trimethoprim (days 7-11). During days 1-11 of the experiment, 24-h urine and blood samples (once daily) were collected and analyses for ethinylestradiol and clenbuterol by specific enzyme immunoassay. In four calves the average urinary excretion of ethinylestradiol during days 7-11 (co-treatment with probenecid) was only about 25% of their average urinary excretion of ethinylestradiol on days 1-6. In the other two calves of this group, the excretion of ethinylestradiol was reduced to 4% on days 7-11 compared with days 1-6. In these two calves several urine samples provided concentrations of ethinylestradiol around the limit of detection. As a consequence, there may be a chance of concealing ethinylestradiol application by co-treatment with probenecid. Co-treatment with trimethoprim led only to a slight reduction of urinary excretion of clenbuterol. The detection of clenbuterol in urine samples from calves which were co-treated with trimethoprim can thus not be prevented.

[Defects of adrenal steroidogenesis in patients with hirsutism]

BACKGROUND

To determine the frequency and the type of adrenal steroidogenic abnormalities in hirsute women.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

ACTH test was performed during follicular phase in 127 hirsute and 40 normal (control) women. Before ACTH injection we measured in serum by RIA: 17-OH-pregnenolone (17-OH-P5), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OH-P4), androstenedione (AN), cortisol (CT), 11-deoxycortisol (DCT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate (DHEAS), total (TT) and free (FT) testosterone, oestradiol (E2), progesterone (PR), androstenediol glucuronide (AG), LH, FSH and prolactin. After 60 min of ACTH injection 17-OH-P5, 17-OH-P4, AN, DHEA, CT and DCT were measured. Net increment of stimulated steroids and the ratios 17-OH-P5/17-OH-P4, DHEA/AN, 17-OH-P4/CT, 17-OH-P5/CT and DCT/CT were calculated. Pelvic ultrasonographic exploration was done when irregular menses were reported.

RESULTS

Up to 31% of the patients presented enzymatic defects in adrenal steroidogenesis. Diagnostic criteria for enzyme defects were established. Late-onset 21-hydroxylase deficiency was diagnosed in 6 (4.5%) patients, HLA typing of these patients demonstrated that 4 out of 6 had B14-DR1. Sixteen women (12.6%) displayed a 17-OH-P4 response and the net increment 2 SD above the normal mean concentration, which are diagnostic criteria for late-onset 21-hydroxylase deficiency carriers. We diagnosed a 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase defect when 17-OH-P5 and DHEA responses, their net increment and the 17-OH-P5/17-OH-P4 and 17-OH-P5/CT ratios were 2 SD above the normal mean after ACTH: 14 women were diagnosed. 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency diagnosis was made when DCT response, its net increment and the DCT/CT ratio after ACTH were 2 SD above the normal mean: 7 women were detected. Associated biosynthetic defects were described.

CONCLUSIONS

One third of our patients with hirsutism presented anomalous response to ACTH, consistent with enzymatic abnormalities in adrenal steroidogenesis.

Androgen receptors and skeletal muscle composition in trotters treated with nandrolone laureate

To study the effects of nandrolone laureate (19-nortestosterone) on muscle hypertrophy and concentration of androgen receptors (AR), biopsy specimens were taken from the middle gluteal muscle of 6 Finnhorse trotters (geldings and mares) undergoing training before, immediately after, and 13 weeks after a 14-week treatment with nandrolone. Another 6 similarly trained horses served as controls. An additional 10 mares and 10 geldings were used to study annual variation in muscle concentration of AR. AR was immunohistochemically localized in the nuclei. AR concentration remained constant during the first 14 weeks of the study, but increased significantly during the 13-week follow-up period in both groups. This finding can be explained by the annual variation in AR. In the anabolic steroid (AS)-treated horses, but not in the controls (C), the cross-sectional area of the type I fibres increased significantly during the treatment period, and the percentage of type IIA fibres correlated positively with AR concentration at the end of nandrolone treatment. In the AS group, the concentration of DNA decreased during the 13-week follow-up period, and the percentage of H-chains in the isoenzymes of LDH increased. Protein concentration increased in both groups during the follow-up period. Glycogen content and the activity of citrate synthase in muscle during the study remained unchanged. It can thus be concluded that AS produce differing effects on type I and type II fibres, and the AR concentration in equine muscle may contribute to the change observed in the middle gluteal muscle.

Late-gestation treatment of pregnant cows with trenbolone acetate does not increase subsequent growth of heifer calves

Fifty crossbred cows (38 multiparous and 12 nulliparous) were used to evaluate in utero androgenization of heifer calves with trenbolone acetate. Three 200-mg trenbolone acetate (Finaplix-H) implants were implanted in the ear of treated cows (n = 24) on d 214 +/- 11 of gestation; the remaining animals (n = 26) were used as controls. Cows' rate of gain, serum levels of trenbolone acetate, gestation length, degree of dystocia, percentage bred back, days until conception, and 24-h milk production were evaluated. Fourteen-day weigh periods until parturition indicated that trenbolone acetate-treated dams had an increased (P < .05) average daily gain (1.05 +/- .1 kg) compared with control cows (.55 +/- .1 kg). Serum concentrations of trenbolone acetate were higher (P < .01) in treated cows with a peak at 9 d after implantation and returned to basal concentrations by d 77. Treatment did not affect degree of dystocia among all cows (P > .05) but seemed to increase (P < .01) the incidence of dystocia in nulliparous cows compared with nulliparous control cows. Gestation length and subsequent fertility were not affected by treatment (P > .05). Similarly, there was no difference in 24-h milk production (P > .05) between treated and control cows. Calf birth weight, phenotypic measurements at birth, vigor, average daily gain, carcass characteristics, and heifer reproductive tract and ovarian weights did not differ with treatment (P > .05). These data showed that late-gestation treatment with 600 mg of trenbolone acetate significantly increased weight gain of dams without demonstrating any androgenizing effects on the growth or physical characteristics of heifer calves.

Relationship of serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, and 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol to risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women

Laboratory evidence suggests a role for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its metabolite 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol (ADIOL) in mammary tumor growth. Serum DHEA also has been related to breast cancer in postmenopausal women, but the relationship of ADIOL to risk has not been evaluated previously. To assess the relationship of serum DHEA, its sulfate (DHEAS), and ADIOL with breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, we conducted a prospective nested case-control study using serum from the Columbia, MO Breast Cancer Serum Bank. Cases included 71 healthy postmenopausal volunteers not taking replacement estrogens when they donated blood and who were diagnosed with breast cancer up to 10 years later (median, 2.9 years). Two randomly selected controls, who also were postmenopausal and not taking estrogens, were matched to each case on exact age, date (+/-1 year), and time (+/-2 h) of blood collection. Significant (trend P = 0.02) gradients of increasing risk of breast cancer were observed for increasing concentrations of DHEA and ADIOL, and women whose serum levels of these hormones were in the highest quartiles were at a significantly elevated risk compared to those in the lowest; their risk ratios were 4.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3-11.8) and 3.0 (95% CI, 1.0-8.6), respectively. The relationship of DHEAS to breast cancer was less consistent, but women whose serum DHEAS concentration was in the highest quartile also exhibited a significantly elevated risk ratio of 2.8 (95% CI, 1.1-7.4). Results of this prospective study support a role for the adrenal androgens, DHEA, DHEAS, and ADIOL, in the etiology of breast cancer.

Effects of drugs which influence renal transport systems on the urinary excretion of the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist clenbuterol and the anabolic steroids ethinylestradiol and methyltestosterone

The aim of this study was to determine whether the illegal application of clenbuterol, ethinylestradiol and methyltestosterone in cattle as growth promoters can be concealed by co-treatment with drugs that affect urinary excretion. Six male veal calves were fed with 0.8 micrograms clenbuterol kg-1 of body weight (BW), 3.5 micrograms ethinylestradiol kg-1 BW and 35 micrograms methyltestosterone kg-1 BW together twice daily for 28 days. At the eighth day of clenbuterol, ethinylestradiol and methyltestosterone treatment each calf was additionally fed either with probenecid, para-aminohippuric acid, trimethoprim, famotidine or cimetidine at three different doses which were increased in weekly intervals. During the treatment 24 h-urine and blood samples (once daily) were obtained and analysed for clenbuterol, ethinylestradiol and methyltestosterone by specific enzyme immunoassay. By high performance liquid chromatography/enzyme immunoassay it was determined whether these drugs or their metabolites interfered with the immunological detection of the growth promoters. Clenbuterol, ethinylestradiol and methyltestosterone could be detected in plasma and urine throughout the whole experiment. Co-treatment with probenecid led to a five-fold reduction in urinary excretion of ethinylestradiol and co-treatment with trimethoprim led to a three-fold reduction in urinary excretion of clenbuterol. None of the drugs reduced urinary excretion of the growth promoters to concentrations below the limit of detection. The detection of these three growth promoters in urine samples from calves which were co-treated with the drugs tested in this study can thus not be prevented.

Supercritical fluid extraction of selected pharmaceuticals from water and serum

Selected drugs from benzodiazepine, anabolic agent and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapeutic classes were extracted from water and serum using a supercritical CO2 mobile phase. The samples were extracted at a pump pressure of 329 MPa, an extraction chamber temperature of 45 degrees C, and a restrictor temperature of 60 degrees C. The static extraction time for all samples was 2.5 min and the dynamic extraction time ranged from 5 to 20 min. The analytes were collected in appropriate solvent traps and assayed by modified literature HPLC procedures. Analyte recoveries were calculated based on peak height measurements of extracted vs. unextracted analyte. The recovery of the benzodiazepines ranged from 80 to 98% in water and from 75 to 94% in serum. Anabolic drug recoveries from water and serum ranged from 67 to 100% and 70 to 100%, respectively. The NSAIDs were recovered from water in the 76 to 97% range and in the 76 to 100% range from serum. Accuracy, precision and endogenous peak interference, if any, were determined for blank and spiked serum extractions and compared with classical sample preparation techniques of liquid-liquid and solid-phase extraction reported in the literature. For the benzodiazepines, accuracy and precision for supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) ranged from 1.95 to 3.31 and 0.57 to 1.25%, respectively (n = 3). The SFE accuracy and precision data for the anabolic agents ranged from 4.03 to 7.84 and 0.66 to 2.78%, respectively (n = 3). The accuracy and precision data reported for the SFE of the NSAIDs ranged from 2.79 to 3.79 and 0.33 to 1.27%, respectively (n = 3). The precision of the SFE method from serum was shown to be comparable to the precision obtained with other classical preparation techniques.

Effect of a combined trenbolone acetate and estradiol implant on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and carcass composition of feedlot steers

Objectives of this study were to determine the influence of trenbolone acetate (TBA) and estradiol (E2) in a combined implant on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and carcass composition in finishing steers. Sixty-four large-framed (394.1 kg) crossbred steers were randomly assigned to one of four pens. Subsequently, pens were randomly assigned to one of two treatments, implanted (120 mg of TBA and 24 mg of E2) and nonimplanted. Eight steers/treatment were slaughtered for initial carcass composition. Remaining steers were assigned to one of three serial slaughter dates (d 40, 115, or 143). Implantation increased circulating trenbolone (TBOH) and E2 concentrations throughout the trial. Implantation increased ADG 18% (P < .001) during d 0 to 40, 21% (P < .001) from d 0 to 115, and 16% for the entire 143 d. Implant status had no effect (P > .05) on dry matter intake. Feed efficiency was improved 13% during d 0 to 40 (P < .01) and from d 41 to 115 (P = .07). Longissimus muscle area was larger (P < .05) in implanted steers than in nonimplanted steers on d 115. Carcasses from implanted steers had a smaller (P < .05) percentage of kidney, pelvic, and heart (KPH) fat on d 143 than those from nonimplanted steers. Carcasses from implanted steers possessed more carcass protein (P < .05) on d 40. Implanted steers had an 82% increase (P < .05) in daily carcass protein accretion during the first 40 d. Implantation increased (P < .01) carcass water but did not affect carcass fat accumulation throughout the feeding period. The combined TBA+E2 implant improved feedlot performance and stimulated carcass protein accretion in feedlot steers.

Anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse in weight lifters: evidence for activation of the hemostatic system

Anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse has recently been linked with acute vascular events in athletes. To date, the relationship between steroid abuse and the potential for cardiovascular disease has been considered almost exclusively in terms of lipid metabolism. However, recent reports of thrombosis in androgen abusing athletes with no evidence of atherosclerosis suggests the hypothesis that thrombosis risk in such athletes could be mediated through androgen induced abnormalities of coagulation. To determine if anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse in weight lifters is associated with an activation of the hemostatic system we studied forty-nine weight lifters recruited through advertisements. History of androgen use or abstinence was confirmed via urine assays. Plasma was assayed for clotting and fibrinolytic activity by measuring thrombin/antithrombin complexes (TAT), prothrombin fragment 1 + 1 (F1 + 2), and D-dimers (D-di); markers of the endothelial based fibrinolytic components were assayed by measuring tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA Ag) and its inhibitor (PAI-1); finally, the activity of antithrombin III, protein C, and protein S were measured. Abnormally high concentrations of TAT complexes were noted in 16% of our confirmed steroid using weight lifters compared to 6% of our confirmed nonusers (P = .01). Steroid users also demonstrated abnormally high concentrations of F1 + 2 and D-dimers when compared to nonusers (44 vs. 24%, P < .001, and 9 vs. 0%, respectively). Non-steroid users were more likely to have elevated levels of t-PA Ag and PAI-1 than our steroid using weight lifters (both P < .001). The activities of antithrombin III and protein S were more likely to be higher in users compared to nonusers (22 vs. 6%, P = .005; 19 vs. 0%, respectively). Some anabolic-androgenic steroid using weight lifters have an accelerated activation of their hemostatic system as evidence by increased generation of both thrombin and plasmin. These changes could reflect a thrombotic diatheses that may contribute to vascular occlusion reported in young athletes using these drugs. The predictive value of these coagulation abnormalities in terms of risk of thrombosis to individual steroid using weight lifters or the population as a whole remains to be studied.

Control of the illegal administration of natural steroid hormones in the plasma of bulls and heifers

In the context of the control of the illegal administration of natural steroid hormones in cattle husbandry, an attempt was made to establish the decision levels for sex steroid hormones in the plasma of adult cattle, taking into account the effect of the treatment. Bulls and heifers were treated with two injections, at a two week interval, of an estradiol-testosterone cocktail. Steroid hormone and biochemical precursor concentrations were measured in plasma samples by using specific radioimmunoassays, before and after the treatment. When the treatment significantly (p < 0.05) modified a hormone concentration, a decision level was established for that hormone concentration. At each decision level, a score was assigned that represented the percentage of treated animals detected when the decision limit was applied. For heifers, 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone concentrations in plasma, which increased after the treatment, are the best criteria to use to detect treated animals, with decision limits of 20 pg ml-1 and 125 pg ml-1, respectively. In the instance of bulls, both testosterone and steroid biochemical precursor concentrations decreased in the plasma after the treatment. We proposed decision limits of 1500 pg ml-1 and 28 pg ml-1 for testosterone and androstenedione concentrations, respectively, the bulls displaying concentrations below these limits being positive. We observed that the repetition of the injection increased the score of the decision limit. The scores for testosterone are 70%, 14d after the first injection and 100% 14 d after the second injection, and for androstenedione, these scores are 60 and 100%, respectively.

Determination of anabolic esters in oily formulations and plasma in husbandry using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass selective detection

Two different analytical methods are described for the analysis of anabolic steroid esters in oily formulations for veterinary use and animal plasma samples, respectively. For the determination of anabolic steroid esters in oily formulations (at mg kg-1 levels) a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with gradient elution is described. Gradient elution is performed owing to the relatively large variations in polarity of the investigated anabolic steroid esters. For the analysis of anabolic steroid esters in plasma (at ng ml-1 levels) two different strategies are applied. After solid-phase extraction, the plasma samples are introduced into the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system where the obtained fractions are then analysed by using gas chromatography-mass selective detection (GC-MSD). An alternative method is direct analysis of plasma samples after solid-phase extraction by using GC-MSD without any further clean-up procedure. Prior to GC-MSD the samples are derivatized to corresponding trifluoroacyl (TFA) derivatives. The calibration graph for HPLC is rectilinear over the range 25-150 ng ml-1 plasma and the analytical recoveries for medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and testosterone propionate (TP) are more than 95%. The detection limits for both analytes in GC-MS are 2.5 ng ml-1 plasma for MPA and 0.5 ng ml-1 plasma for TP with an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio (calculated for the derivatized relative molecular mass). In the analysis of plasma obtained from animal experiments concentrations of 6.5 ng ml-1 are found for MPA by using GC-MSD and 5.0 ng ml-1 are found for nortestosterone laurate (NL) by using HPLC.

Studies on anabolic steroids--12. Epimerization and degradation of anabolic 17 beta-sulfate-17 alpha-methyl steroids in human: qualitative and quantitative GC/MS analysis

The epimerization and dehydration reactions of the 17 beta-hydroxy group of anabolic 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl steroids have been investigated using the pyridinium salts of 17 beta-sulfate derivatives of methandienone 1, methyltestosterone 4, oxandrolone 7, mestanolone 10 and stanozolol 11 as model compounds. Rearrangement of the sulfate conjugates in buffered urine (pH 5.2) afforded the corresponding 17-epimers and 18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-13(14)-enes in a ratio of 0.8:1. These data indicated that both epimerization and dehydration of the 17 beta-sulfate derivatives were not dependent upon the respective chemical features of the steroids studied, but were instead inherent to the chemistry of the tertiary 17 beta-hydroxy group of these steroids. Interestingly, in vivo studies carried out with human male volunteers showed that only methandienone 1, methyltestosterone 4 and oxandrolone 7 yielded the corresponding 17-epimers 2, 5 and 8 and the 18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-13(14)-enes 3, 6 and 9 in ratios of 0.5:1, 2:1 and 2.7:1, respectively. No trace of the corresponding 17-epimers and 18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-13(14)-enes derivatives of mestanolone 10 and stanozolol 11 was detected in urine samples collected after administration of these steroids. These data suggested that the in vivo formation of the 17-epimers and 18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-13(14)-enes derivatives of 17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methyl steroids is also dependent upon phase I and phase II metabolic reactions other than sulfation of the tertiary 17 beta-hydroxyl group, which are probably modulated by the respective chemical features of the steroidal substrates. The data reported in this study demonstrate that the 17-epimers and 18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-13(14)-enes are not artifacts resulting from the acidic or microbial degradation of the parent steroids in the gut as previously suggested by other authors, but arise from the rearrangement of their 17 beta-sulfate derivatives. Unchanged oxandrolone 7 was solely detected in the unconjugated steroid fraction whereas unchanged steroids 1, 4 and 11 were recovered from the glucuronide fraction. These data are indirect evidences suggesting that the glucuronide conjugates of compounds 1 and 4 are probably enol glucuronides and that of compound 11 is excreted in urine as a N-glucuronide involving its pyrazole moiety. The urinary excretion profiles of the epimeric and 18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-13(14)-ene steroids are presented and discussed on the basis of their structural features.