Characterization of desoxymethyltestosterone main urinary metabolite produced from cultures of human fresh hepatocytes

Androgenic steroids in Over-the-Counter dietary Supplements: Analysis for association with adverse health effects

From 2012 to 2013, approximately 16 New York residents reported vague, nonspecific adverse health effects which included fatigue, loss of scalp hair, and muscle aches. One patient was hospitalized for liver damage. An epidemiological investigation identified a common factor among these patients; the consumption of B-50 vitamin and multimineral supplements from the same supplier. To investigate whether these nutritional supplements might have been responsible for the adverse health effects observed, comprehensive chemical analyses of marketed lots of the supplements were performed. To determine presence of organic components and contaminants, organic extracts of samples were prepared and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). These analyses revealed the presence of significant levels of methasterone (17β-hydroxy-2α,17α-dimethyl-5α-androstane-3-one), an androgenic steroid and schedule III-controlled substance; dimethazine, an azine-linked dimer of methasterone; and methylstenbolone (2,17α-dimethyl-17β-hydroxy-5α-androst-1-en-3-one), a related androgenic steroid. Methasterone and extracts of certain supplement capsules were identified as highly androgenic in luciferase assays by using an androgen receptor promoter construct. This androgenicity persisted for several days after cell exposure to the compounds. The presence of these components in implicated lots were associated with adverse health effects and the hospitalization of one patient and the presentation of symptoms of severe virilization in a child. These findings underscore the need for more rigorous oversight of the nutritional supplement industry.

HepG2 as promising cell-based model for biosynthesis of long-term metabolites: Exemplified for metandienone

In order to detect the abuse of substances in sports, the knowledge of their metabolism is of undisputable importance. As in vivo administration of compounds faces ethical problems and might even not be applicable for nonapproved compounds, cell-based models might be a versatile tool for biotransformation studies. We coincubated HepG2 cells with metandienone and D₃ -epitestosterone for 14 days. Phase I and II metabolites were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry and confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The metandienone metabolites formed by HepG2 cells were comparable with those renally excreted by humans. HepG2 cells also generated the two long-term metabolites 17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methyl-18-nor-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one and 17α-hydroxymethyl-17β-methyl-18-nor-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one used in doping analyses, though in an inverse ratio compared with that observed in human urine. In conclusion, we showed that HepG2 cells are suitable as model for the investigation of biotransformation of androgens, especially for the anabolic androgenic steroid metandienone. They further proved to cover phase I and II metabolic pathways, which combined with a prolonged incubation time with metandienone resulted in the generation of its respective long-term metabolites known from in vivo metabolism. Moreover, we showed the usability of D₃ -epitestosterone as internal standard for the incubation. The method used herein appears to be suitable and advantageous compared with other models for the investigation of doping-relevant compounds, probably enabling the discovery of candidate metabolites for doping analyses.

Suspected adverse reactions to performance enhancing dietary supplements: Spontaneous reports from the Italian phytovigilance system

Herbal tonic and adaptogens are often used to improve overall well-being. However, few clinical evidence supports their use and their safety is not known before marketing. In this context, the aim of our study was to analyze the spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions (ARs) to performance enhancing herbal dietary supplements collected by the Italian Phytovigilance System. Between March 2002 and September 2020, 110 spontaneous reports were collected, 58 of which related to products containing botanicals, alone or in association. Twenty-three serious reactions were reported, 21 of which required hospitalization, one was life-threatening and another caused disability. Dermatological and cardiovascular reactions were the most frequent. Hepatic ARs were the most serious (9 out of 10). A positive dechallenge was indicated in 69% of cases, while a positive rechallenge occurred in 15%. Concomitant use of other products was present in 18 reports (31%), while predisposing conditions were indicated in 17 (29%). Present data highlight safety concerns on herbal dietary supplements used as cognitive and physical performance enhancers, mainly due to their quality and use without expert supervision. Considering that postmarketing surveillance is not required for these products, spontaneous reports represent the only tool to point out risks related to food supplements.

Detection of urinary metabolites of arimistane in humans by gas chromatography coupled to high-accuracy mass spectrometry for antidoping analyses

RATIONALE

The selection of the most appropriate metabolites of the substances included in the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is fundamental for setting up methods allowing the detection of their intake by mass spectrometric methods. The aim of this work is to investigate the metabolism of arimistane (an aromatase inhibitor included in the WADA list) in order to improve its detection capacity among the antidoping community.

METHODS

Urinary samples collected after controlled single administration of arimistane in three healthy volunteers were analysed using the common routine sample preparation in antidoping laboratories to determine the steroid profile parameters considered in the steroid module of the Athlete Biological Passport by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). For the elucidation of the proposed metabolites, GC coupled to high-accuracy MS (GC/qTOFMS) was used. Both mass spectrometers were operated in electron ionization mode. Non-conjugated (free), glucuronated and sulfated fractions were analysed separately.

RESULTS

No relevant effects on the steroid profile could be detected after a single oral dose (25 mg). Up to 15 metabolites, present only in the post-administration samples, were detected and some structures were postulated. These metabolites are mainly excreted as glucuro-conjugated into urine and only minor amounts of two metabolites are also excreted unconjugated or as sulfates.

CONCLUSIONS

Arimistane itself was not observed in the free or glucuronated fractions, but only in the sulfate fraction. The peaks showing mass spectra in agreement with hydroxylated metabolites did not match with those for 7-keto-DHEA, 7α- or 7β-hydroxy-DHEA. This suggests that the first hydroxylation did not occur on C3, but on C2. These newly described metabolites allow the specific detection of arimistane misuse in sports.

Markers of mesterolone abuse in sulfate fraction for doping control in human urine

This manuscript describes the direct detection of mesteroloe sulfo-conjugated metabolites by liquid chromatography/quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (LC/Q/TOFMS) with special focus on evaluation of their retrospective detectability and their structure elucidation. A comparison of their long-term detectability, with the mesterolone main metabolite (1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one) excreted in glucuronide fraction and detected by gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS), is also presented. Studies on mesterolone were performed with samples obtained from two excretion studies after single oral administration of Proviron© by healthy volunteers. Potential sulfate metabolites were detected in post administration samples after liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with ethyl acetate and LC/TOFMS analysis, in negative mode. Twelve mesterolone sulfate metabolites from the first excretion study and nine from the second were subsequently confirmed by LC/Q/TOFMS. Finally, six mesterolone sulfate metabolites were considered important taking into account their abundance and long-term detectability, encoded as M1, M2, M4, M5, M6 and M7. The proposed mesterolone sulfate metabolites M1, M2, M4 and M5 (excreted as sulfates) have the same retrospectivity with the main mesterolone metabolite, excreted in glucuronide fraction. For metabolite characterization, LC fractionation was performed. The metabolites were identified and characterized by GC/MS, after solvolysis and derivatization. Combined mass spectra data from trimethyl-silyl (TMS), TMS-enolTMS and methoxime-TMS derivatives were taken into account for the characterization of these metabolites. It was concluded that M1 is 1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3β-ol-17 one, M2 is 1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17 one, M4 is 1α-methyl-5a-androstan-3β, 16z-diol-17-one, M5 is 1α-methyl-5α-androstan-17z,4ξ-diol-3one, M6 is 1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3z,6z-diol-17-one and M7 is 4z-hydroxy-1α-methyl-5α-androstan-3,17-dione.

In vitro metabolism studies of desoxy-methyltestosterone (DMT) and its five analogues, and in vivo metabolism of desoxy-vinyltestosterone (DVT) in horses

The positive findings of norbolethone in 2002 and tetrahydrogestrinone in 2003 in human athlete samples confirmed that designer steroids were indeed being abused in human sports. In 2005, an addition to the family of designer steroids called 'Madol' [also known as desoxy-methyltestosterone (DMT)] was seized by government officials at the US-Canadian border. Two years later, a positive finding of DMT was reported in a mixed martial arts athlete's sample. It is not uncommon that doping agents used in human sports would likewise be abused in equine sports. Designer steroids would, therefore, pose a similar threat to the horseracing and equestrian communities. This paper describes the in vitro metabolism studies of DMT and five of its structural analogues with different substituents at the 17α position (RH, ethyl, vinyl, ethynyl and ² H₃ -methyl). In addition, the in vivo metabolism of desoxy-vinyltestosterone (DVT) in horses will be presented. The in vitro studies revealed that the metabolic pathways of DMT and its analogues occurred predominantly in the A-ring by way of a combination of enone formation, hydroxylation and reduction. Additional biotransformation involving hydroxylation of the 17α-alkyl group was also observed for DMT and some of its analogues. The oral administration experiment revealed that DVT was extensively metabolised and the parent drug was not detected in urine. Two in vivo metabolites, derived respectively from (1) hydroxylation of the A-ring and (2) di-hydroxylation together with A-ring double-bond reduction, could be detected in urine up to a maximum of 46 h after administration. Another in vivo metabolite, derived from hydroxylation of the A-ring with additional double-bond reduction and di-hydroxylation of the 17α-vinyl group, could be detected in urine up to a maximum of 70 h post-administration. All in vivo metabolites were excreted mainly as glucuronides and were also detected in the in vitro studies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

New oxymesterone metabolites in human by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and their application for doping control

Oxymesterone (17α-methyl-4, 17β-dihydroxy-androst-4-ene-3-one) is one of the anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The biotransformation of oxymesterone is performed in vitro by human heptocytes and human urinary metabolic profiles are investigated after single dose of 20 mg to two adult males as well. Cell cultures and urine samples were hydrolyzed by β-glucuronidase, extracted, and reacted with N-Methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide (MSTFA), ammonium iodide (NH4 I), and dithioerythritol. After derivatization, a gas chromatography triple quadruple tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) using full scan and MS/MS modes was applied. The total ion chromatographs of the blank and the positive samples are compared, and 7 new metabolites were found. In addition to the well-known 17-epioxymesterone, oxymesterone is metabolized by 4-ene-reduction, 3-keto-reduction, 11β-hydroxylation, and 16ξ-hydroxylation. Based on the behavior of the MS/MS results of product ion and precursor ion modes, a GC-MS/MS method has been developed monitoring these metabolites. The structures of metabolite 2 and 4 are tentatively identified as 17α-methyl-3β, 17β-dihydroxy-5α-androstane-4-one and 17α-methyl-3α, 4ξ, 17β-trihydroxy-5α-androstane, respectively. Detection of oxymesterone using new metabolites M2 and M4 can extend the detection window up to 4 days since the parent steroid was not detectable. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comparison of sulfo-conjugated and gluco-conjugated urinary metabolites for detection of methenolone misuse in doping control by LC-HRMS, GC-MS and GC-HRMS

Methenolone (17β-hydroxy-1-methyl-5α-androst-1-en-3-one) misuse in doping control is commonly detected by monitoring the parent molecule and its metabolite (1-methylene-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one) excreted conjugated with glucuronic acid using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for the parent molecule, after hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the sulfate fraction of methenolone metabolism by LC-high resolution (HR)MS and the estimation of the long-term detectability of its sulfate metabolites analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMSMS) compared with the current practice for the detection of methenolone misuse used by the anti-doping laboratories. Methenolone was administered to two healthy male volunteers, and urine samples were collected up to 12 and 26 days, respectively. Ethyl acetate extraction at weak alkaline pH was performed and then the sulfate conjugates were analyzed by LC-HRMS using electrospray ionization in negative mode searching for [M-H](-) ions corresponding to potential sulfate structures (comprising structure alterations such as hydroxylations, oxidations, reductions and combinations of them). Eight sulfate metabolites were finally detected, but four of them were considered important as the most abundant and long term detectable. LC clean up followed by solvolysis and GC/MS analysis of trimethylsilylated (TMS) derivatives reveal that the sulfate analogs of methenolone as well as of 1-methylene-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one, 3z-hydroxy-1β-methyl-5α-androstan-17-one and 16β-hydroxy-1-methyl-5α-androst-1-ene-3,17-dione were the major metabolites in the sulfate fraction. The results of the present study also document for the first time the methenolone sulfate as well as the 3z-hydroxy-1β-methyl-5α-androstan-17-one sulfate as metabolites of methenolone in human urine. The time window for the detectability of methenolone sulfate metabolites by LC-HRMS is comparable with that of their hydrolyzed glucuronide analogs analyzed by GC-MS. The results of the study demonstrate the importance of sulfation as a phase II metabolic pathway for methenolone metabolism, proposing four metabolites as significant components of the sulfate fraction.

Advances in the detection of designer steroids in anti-doping

The abuse of unknown designer androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) is considered to be an issue of significant importance, as AAS are the choice of doping preference according to World Anti-doping Agency statistics. In addition, unknown designer AAS are preferred since the World Anti-doping Agency mass spectrometric identification criteria cannot be applied to unknown molecules. Consequently, cheating athletes have a strong motive to use designer AAS in order to both achieve performance enhancement and to escape from testing positive in anti-doping tests. To face the problem, a synergy is required between the anti-doping analytical science and sports anti-doping regulations. This Review examines various aspects of the designer AAS. First, the structural modifications of the already known AAS to create new designer molecules are explained. A list of the designer synthetic and endogenous AAS is then presented. Second, we discuss progress in the detection of designer AAS using: mass spectrometry and bioassays; analytical data processing of the unknown designer AAS; metabolite synthesis; and, long-term storage of urine and blood samples. Finally, the introduction of regulations from sports authorities as preventive measures for long-term storage and reprocessing of samples, initially reported as negatives, is discussed.

Current status and bioanalytical challenges in the detection of unknown anabolic androgenic steroids in doping control analysis

Androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) are prohibited in sports due to their anabolic effects. Doping control laboratories usually face the screening of AAS misuse by target methods based on MS detection. Although these methods allow for the sensitive and specific detection of targeted compounds and metabolites, the rest remain undetectable. This fact opens a door for cheaters, since different AAS can be synthesized in order to evade doping control tests. This situation was evidenced in 2003 with the discovery of the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone. One decade after this discovery, the detection of unknown AAS still remains one of the main analytical challenges in the doping control field. In this manuscript, the current situation in the detection of unknown AAS is reviewed. Although important steps have been made in order to minimize this analytical problem and different analytical strategies have been proposed, there are still some drawbacks related to each approach.