Effect of HepG2 cell 3D cultivation on the metabolism of the anabolic androgenic steroid metandienone

The elucidation of the metabolic fate of prohibited substances is crucial for the abuse detection. The human hepatocyte cell line HepG2 can be used to study biotransformation. In order to improve this in vitro model system, we compared the HepG2 spheroid generation using three different techniques: a forced floating, a scaffold-free and a scaffold-based method. We characterized the spheroids with regard to the expression levels of the proliferation marker Mki67, the liver-specific marker albumin and biotransformation enzymes. Moreover, the metandienone metabolite pattern was comparatively analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. With all three techniques, HepG2 spheroids were generated showing a degree of differentiation. The forced floating method resulted in very large spheroids (1 mm in diameter) showing signs of necrosis in the centre and a very low metandienone conversion rate. The spheroids formed by the two other techniques were comparable in size with 0.5 mm in diameter on average. Among the three different 3D cultivation methods, the HepG2 spheroids formed on Matrigel® as extracellular matrix were the most promising regarding biotransformation studies on anabolic androgenic steroids. Prospectively, HepG2 spheroids are a promising in vitro model system to study multidrug setups, drug-drug interactions and the biotransformation of other substance classes.

New Insights into the Metabolism of Methyltestosterone and Metandienone: Detection of Novel A-Ring Reduced Metabolites

Metandienone and methyltestosterone are orally active anabolic-androgenic steroids with a 17α-methyl structure that are prohibited in sports but are frequently detected in anti-doping analysis. Following the previously reported detection of long-term metabolites with a 17ξ-hydroxymethyl-17ξ-methyl-18-nor-5ξ-androst-13-en-3ξ-ol structure in the chlorinated metandienone analog dehydrochloromethyltestosterone ("oral turinabol"), in this study we investigated the formation of similar metabolites of metandienone and 17α-methyltestosterone with a rearranged D-ring and a fully reduced A-ring. Using a semi-targeted approach including the synthesis of reference compounds, two diastereomeric substances, viz. 17α-hydroxymethyl-17β-methyl-18-nor-5β-androst-13-en-3α-ol and its 5α-analog, were identified following an administration of methyltestosterone. In post-administration urines of metandienone, only the 5β-metabolite was detected. Additionally, 3α,5β-tetrahydro-epi-methyltestosterone was identified in the urines of both administrations besides the classical metabolites included in the screening procedures. Besides their applicability for anti-doping analysis, the results provide new insights into the metabolism of 17α-methyl steroids with respect to the order of reductions in the A-ring, the participation of different enzymes, and alterations to the D-ring.

Efficient approach for the detection and identification of new androgenic metabolites by applying SRM GC-CI-MS/MS: a methandienone case study

Identification of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) is a vital issue in doping control and toxicology, and searching for metabolites with longer detection times remains an important task. Recently, a gas chromatography chemical ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-CI-MS/MS) method was introduced, and CI, in comparison with electron ionization (EI), proved to be capable of increasing the sensitivity significantly. In addition, correlations between AAS structure and fragmentation behavior could be revealed. This enables the search for previously unknown but expected metabolites by selection of their predicted transitions. The combination of both factors allows the setup of an efficient approach to search for new metabolites. The approach uses selected reaction monitoring which is inherently more sensitive than full scan or precursor ion scan. Additionally, structural information obtained from the structure specific CI fragmentation pattern facilitates metabolite identification. The procedure was demonstrated by a methandienone case study. Its metabolites have been studied extensively in the past, and this allowed an adequate evaluation of the efficiency of the approach. Thirty three metabolites were detected, including all relevant previously discovered metabolites. In our study, the previously reported long-term metabolite (18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl,17α-methyl-androst-1,4,13-trien-3-one) could be detected up to 26 days by using GC-CI-MS/MS. The study proves the validity of the approach to search for metabolites of new synthetic AAS and new long-term metabolites of less studied AAS and illustrates the increase in sensitivity by using CI. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A new sulphate metabolite as a long-term marker of metandienone misuse

Metandienone is one of the most frequently detected anabolic androgenic steroids in sports drug testing. Metandienone misuse is commonly detected by monitoring different metabolites excreted free or conjugated with glucuronic acid using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase and liquid-liquid extraction. It is known that several metabolites are the result of the formation of sulphate conjugates in C17, which are converted to their 17-epimers in urine. Therefore, sulphation is an important phase II metabolic pathway of metandienone that has not been comprehensively studied. The aim of this work was to evaluate the sulphate fraction of metandienone metabolism by LC-MS/MS. Seven sulphate metabolites were detected after the analysis of excretion study samples by applying different neutral loss scan, precursor ion scan and SRM methods. One of the metabolites (M1) was identified and characterised by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS as 18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methylandrost-1,4,13-triene-3-one sulphate. M1 could be detected up to 26 days after the administration of a single dose of metandienone (5 mg), thus improving the period in which the misuse can be reported with respect to the last long-term metandienone metabolite described (18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methylandrost-1,4,13-triene-3-one excreted in the glucuronide fraction).

[Conversion of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone to methandrostenolone by the bacterium Pimelobacter simplex VKPM Ac-1632 with the presence of cyclodextrins]

Conditions of conversion of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone to methandrostenolone with the presence of modified beta-cyclodextrins (methylcyclodextrin, hydroxypropylcyclodextrin, and hydroxyethylcyclodextrin) in the steroid:cyclodextrin ratio 1:1 were studied. The experimental solutions of modified beta-cyclodextrins were prepared in deionized water with 5-7% methanol. Under the conditions found to be optimal, 1,2-dehydrogenation of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone was carried out with 2-4 g/l Pimelobacter simplex VKPM Ac-1632 biomass. At the substrate concentration 5-20 g/l, the reaction occurred for 1-15 h without any by-products. The maximum rate of methandrostenolone accumulation was observed with hydroxypropylcyclodextrin. The methylcyclodextrin solution can be reused for complete 17 alpha-methyltestosterone conversion at the concentration 5 g/l.

Glucuronidation of anabolic androgenic steroids by recombinant human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases

A multidimensional study on the glucuronidation of anabolic androgenic steroids and their phase I metabolites by 11 recombinant human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) was carried out using liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric analyses. Large differences between the enzymes with respect to the conjugation profiles of the 11 tested aglycones were detected. Two UGTs, 1A6 and 1A7, did not exhibit measurable activity toward any of the aglycones that were examined in this study. Regioselectivity was demonstrated by UGTs 1A8, 1A9, and 2B15 that preferentially catalyzed hydroxyl glucuronidation at the 17beta-position. Most of the other enzymes glucuronidated hydroxyl groups at both the 3alpha- and the 17beta-positions. Clear stereoselectivity was observed in glucuronidation of diastereomeric nandrolone metabolites (5alpha-estran-3alpha-ol-17-one and 5beta-estran-3alpha-ol-17-one), whereas such specificity was not seen when analogous methyltestosterone metabolites were assayed. UGTs 1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A8, 1A9, 1A10, 2B4, 2B7, and 2B15 readily glucuronidated 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol, but none of them exhibited methyltestosterone glucuronidation activity. In agreement with the latter observations, we found that the methyltestosterone glucuronidation activity of human liver microsomes is extremely low, whereas in induced rat liver microsomes it was significantly higher. The homology among UGTs 1A7 to 1A10 at the level of amino acid sequence is very high, and it was thus surprising to find large differences in their activity toward this set of aglycones. Furthermore, the high activity of UGT1A8 and 1A10 toward some of the substrates indicates that extrahepatic enzymes might play a role in the metabolism of anabolic androgenic steroids.

Metabolism of anabolic steroids by recombinant human cytochrome P450 enzymes. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of metabolites

Metabolism of steroid hormones with anabolic properties was studied in vitro using human recombinant CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and 2B6 enzymes. The enzyme formats used for CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 were insect cell microsomes expressing human CYP enzymes and purified recombinant human CYP enzymes in a reconstituted system. CYP3A4 enzyme formats incubated with anabolic steroids, testosterone, 17alpha-methyltestosterone, metandienone, boldenone and 4-chloro-1,2-dehydro-17alpha-methyltestosterone, produced 6beta-hydroxyl metabolites identified as trimethylsilyl (TMS)-ethers by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. When the same formats of CYP2C9 were incubated with the anabolic steroids, no 6beta-hydroxyl metabolites were formed. Human lymphoblast cell microsomes expressing human CYP2B6 incubated with the steroids investigated produced traces of 6beta-hydroxyl metabolites with testosterone and 17alpha-methyltestosterone only. We suggest that the electronic effects of the 3-keto-4-ene structural moiety contribute to the selectivity within the active site of CYP3A4 enzyme resulting in selective 6beta-hydroxylation.

Identification of metabolites of the anabolic steroid methandienone formed by bovine hepatocytes in vitro

Monolayer cultures of bovine hepatocytes were used to investigate the biotransformation of methandienone in vitro. After incubation of bovine hepatocytes with methandienone, samples were taken at different times. The samples were treated with deconjugation enzymes and extracted with diethyl ether. The metabolites formed were converted to their trimethylsilylether derivatives. By using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with electron impact and chemical ionisation, several metabolites were identified. After 24 h of incubation with bovine hepatocytes, 83% of the parent compound was converted to its metabolites. The major metabolite found was 6-beta-hydroxymethandienone with a yield of 24%. This compound was identified after comparison with an authentic sample of 6 beta-hydroxymethandienone, which was synthesized chemically.

Metabolism of anabolic steroids in humans: synthesis of 6 beta-hydroxy metabolites of 4-chloro-1,2-dehydro-17 alpha-methyltestosterone, fluoxymesterone, and metandienone

Hydroxylation at position 6 beta testosterone I (17 beta-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one) and the anabolic steroids 17 alpha-methyltestosterone II (17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methylandrost-4-en-3-one), metandienone III (17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methylandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one), 4-chloro-1,2-dehydro-17 alpha-methyltestosterone IV (4-chloro-17 beta-hydroxy-17 alpha-methylandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one), and fluoxymesterone V (9-fluoro-11 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methylandrost-4-en-3-one) was achieved via light-induced autooxidation of the corresponding trimethysilyl 3,5-dienol ethers dissolved in isopropanol or ethanol. The reaction further yielded the 6 alpha-hydroxy isomer in low amounts. The 6 beta-hydroxy isomer of I-V and the 6 alpha-hydroxy isomers of I, III, and IV were isolated and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry. Human excretion studies with single administered doses of boldenone (17 beta-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one), 4-chloro-1,2-dehydro-17 alpha-methyltestosterone, fluoxymesterone, metandienone, 17 alpha-methyltestosterone, and [16,16,17-2H3] testosterone showed that 6 beta-hydroxylation is the major metabolic pathway in the metabolism of 4-chloro-1,2-dehydro-17 alpha-methyltestosterone, fluoxymesterone, and metandienone, whereas for boldenone, 17 alpha-methyltestosterone, and testosterone, 6 beta-hydroxylation is negligible.

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.

Methandrostenolone metabolism in humans: potential problems associated with isolation and identification of metabolites

Methandrostenolone dose (amount and duration) and methods of isolation from urine can influence the identification and quantitation of methandrostenolone metabolites. Long-term use of methandrostenolone at high dosages led to the appearance of unmetabolized drug in the urine and contributed to the identification of a previously unreported metabolite, 3 beta, 6 section, 17 beta-trihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 section-1-androstene. Exposure of methandrostenolone in vitro to acid conditions induced a retropinacol rearrangement in the D-ring of the methandrostenolone molecule, causing the formation of 18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-1,4,13(14)-androstatrien-3-one in large amounts. The same acidic conditions led to the addition of a hydroxyl at the 6 position of the B-ring of either the retropinacol rearrangement products or native methandrostenolone resulting in the formation of 6 beta-hydroxy-18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-1,4,13(14)-androstatrien-3-one, 6 alpha- hydroxy-18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-1,4,13(14)-androstatrien, 6 beta-17 alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one and 6 alpha,17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one. Hydroxylation of native methandrostenolone at the 6 position also occurs endogenously. However, no evidence of an endogenous retropinacol rearrangement was found. Silylating agents alone can induce the formation of small amounts of 6 beta-17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one. Discrepancies between previously published reports on methandrostenolone metabolism in man are discussed and compared with an animal model.

Methandrostenolone: metabolism in the rabbit

Methandrostenolone and the fully reduced metabolites 17 alpha-methyl-5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol and 17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, the partially reduced and hydroxylated metabolites 16 alpha, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androst-1-en-3-one and 16 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-5 beta-androst-1-en-3-one, the monohydroxylated metabolites 6 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one and 16 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one, and the dihydroxylated metabolite 6 beta, 16 beta, 17 beta-trihydroxy-17 beta-trihydroxy-17 alpha-methyl-1,4-androstadien-3-one have been isolated and identified in the urine of rabbits orally dosed with methandrostenolone. C-16 Hydroxylated and dihydroxylated metabolites have not been previously reported from methandrostenolone. No evidence for epimerization at the C-17 position was observed in the rabbit.

Studies on anabolic steroids. The mass spectra of 17 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-1,4-androstadien-3-one (Dianabol) and its metabolites

The metabolism of 17 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-1,4-androstadien-3-one (dianabol) in human adults has been studied in detail by computer aided capillary gas chromatography mass spectrometry. After oral administration to man six metabolites were determined in the free fraction of the urine samples, the structures of which have been identified as 17-epidianabol, three isomers of 6-hydroxydianabol, 17 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-1,4,6-androstatrien-3-one (delta 6-dianabol) and 18-nor-17,17-dimethyl-1,4,13(14)-androstatrien-3-one, respectively. In agreement with previous observations no measurable amounts of the administered drug itself could be detected in any of the urine samples investigated. The mass spectra of all metabolites and the main fragmentation processes are discussed in detail.

Gas chromatographic and capillary column gas chromatographic--mass spectrometric determination of synthetic anabolic steroids. I. Methandienone and its metabolites

The determination of methandienone (I) (17 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one) in human urine by gas chromatography and capillary column gas chromatography--mass spectrometry has been studied. After oral administration to man two major metabolites were detected, the structures of which have been identified as 17-epi-methandienone (II) and 6 beta-hydroxy-17-epi-methandienone (III). These metabolites are exclusively excreted in the unconjugated form. At least two more metabolites are extractable from the free fraction of the urine but no measurable amounts of I itself were found. The rate of metabolism and urinary excretion seems to be reasonably fast. The total amount of recovered I in the form of the metabolites II and III is about 5%. Extraction and clean-up procedures and chromatographic details are presented.

Investigations of anabolic drug abuse in athletics and cattle feed. II. Specific determination of methandienone (Dianabol) in urine in nanogram amounts

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the free excreted anabolic drug methandienone in pharmacokinetic studies is described. After extraction of the free steroids from urine, separation on reversed-phase columns leads to quantitative determination of this drug down to 5 ng, and to qualitative detection of less than 1 ng amounts. Because the anabolic drugs and their metabolites are eluted later than the other normally excreted constituents this method is also useful for the routine surveillance of anabolic drug abuse in the sports in general.

[Methandrostenolone residues in the tissues and biological fluids of agricultural animals stimulated by the preparation]

Residual amounts of hormonal-active substances were isolated from the tissues of farm animals stimulated with metandrostenolone-3H. The process of isolation included extraction with a mixture of polar solvents, hydrolysis, adsorption and partition column chromatography, thin-layer and paper chromatography, with radio-isotope, fluorometric, spectrophotometric and densitometric methods employed for identification. Results subsequent to determination of residual amounts of the compound are reported.

The effects of large doses of the anabolic steroid, methandrostenolone, on an athlete

Doses of the anabolic steroid, methandrostenolone, nearly ten times greater than those used therapeutically, have resulted in a marked depression of levels of testosterone in urine and blood, and in some depression of gonadotrophin excretion by a male athlete. The administration of the drug has been checked and its metabolism studied from the pattern of urinary metabolites.

The use of carbon skeleton chromatography for the detection of steroid drug metabolites: the metabolism of anabolic steroids in man

The use of carbon skeleton chromatography for the detection of anabolic steroid drug metabolites has been studied in man. The known metabolites of methandrostenolone and 19-nortestosterone were detected both by carbon skeleton chromatography and conventional methods; in addition, some previously unrecognised polar metabolites of 19-nortestosterone were found. Previously unknown metabolites of norethandrolone and oxymetholone have been detected by carbon skeleton chromatography. The urinary metabolites of the above compounds, except for methandrostenolone, were extractable after incubation with a β-glucuronidase preparation; the metabolites of methandrostenolone were freely extractable from urine. A number of steroids with uncommon structures and steroid alkaloids have been successfully reduced to compounds which behave chromatographically like hydrocarbons; therefore, the detection of the metabolites of many such compounds by carbon skeleton chromatography may be possible.

Transformation of steroids by Mucor griseo-cyanus

Spores and vegetative growth of Mucor griseo-cyanus (ATCC 1207) hydroxylated deoxycorticosterone, testosterone, progesterone, and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione mainly to their 14α-hydroxy derivatives. However, with 17α-methyl substituted steroids, the main transformation products were the 7α-hydroxy derivatives.