液相色谱-串联质谱法测定尿液中的内源性类固醇激素

建立了液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)测定尿液中的内源性类固醇激素的方法。尿样经葡萄糖醛酸甙酶酶解后进行液-液提取,以甲醇-0.1%甲酸缓冲液(含0.02 mol/L乙酸铵)(体积比为68:32)为流动相,采用Cosmosil C18色谱柱分离,并以三重四极杆串联质谱多反应监测扫描方式对尿样中的脱氢表雄酮(DHEA)、睾酮、表睾酮、雄酮和苯胆烷醇酮等5种激素进行检测。方法的最低检出限为0.01～10 ng/mL,平均回收率为96.7%～106.5%,日内和日间相对标准偏差(RSD)分别小于7%和11%。应用所建立的方法测定了健康志愿者口服DHEA后尿液中内源性类固醇激素的变化情况,结果表明该方法样品处理简便,色谱分离完全,结果准确可靠,可替代气相色谱-质谱法用于体液中内源性类固醇激素兴奋剂的常规分析。     

凝胶渗透色谱-固相萃取净化-超快速液相色谱-串联质谱法检测牛肉中9种类固醇激素残留

建立了凝胶渗透色谱分离-固相萃取净化-超快速液相色谱-串联质谱 (GPC-SPE-RRLC-MS/MS)测定牛肉中群勃龙、勃地龙、诺龙、睾酮、美雄酮、甲基睾酮、司坦唑醇、黄体酮、苯丙酸诺龙9种类固醇激素残留的方法.试样经β-盐酸葡萄糖醛苷酶/芳基硫酸酯酶酶解,叔丁基甲醚超声提取,凝胶渗透色谱和HLB固相萃取柱净化,以乙腈-0.1%甲酸水溶液为流动相,经Agilent Plus C18柱分离后以MS/MS多反应监测扫描模式检测.方法线性相关系数r＞0.999,定量限为0.2～0.7 μg/kg.在3种浓度添加水平0.3, 1.0, 4.0 μg/kg下,其平均回收率为81.4%～110%;相对标准偏差(RSD)为2.2%～9.8%.本方法已成功应用于高脂肪和基质复杂样品中9种类固醇激素残留的检测.     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时检测鸡肉和鸡蛋中合成类固醇类激素和糖皮质激素

建立了鸡肉和鸡蛋中合成类固醇类激素(睾酮、甲基睾酮、群勃龙、勃地龙、诺龙、美雄酮、司坦唑醇、丙酸诺龙、丙酸睾酮及苯丙酸诺龙)和糖皮质类激素(泼尼松、泼尼松龙、地塞米松、氟氢可的松、甲基泼尼松、倍氯米松及氢化可的松)多残留的液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)检测方法.样品经乙腈超声提取,正己烷脱脂净化,以甲醇-甲酸水溶液为流动相,经C18柱分离后进行LC-MS/MS选择反应监测模式下的定性及定量分析.合成类固醇类激素采用正离子模式检测,糖皮质激素则采用负离子模式检测,正、负离子化模式一次进样同时检测.类固醇类和糖皮质类激素的定量检出限为0.5 μg/kg.在0.5、 1.0和5.0 μg/kg 3种浓度添加水平,上述激素的平均回收率为73.4%～108.9%;相对标准偏差为3.4%～13.4%.可实现样本灵敏、准确地定性定量分析.     

高效液相色谱－串联质谱法检测配合饲料中11种蛋白同化激素含量

建立了快速分析配合饲料中睾酮、甲基睾酮、勃地龙、美雄酮、雄烯二酮、脱氢异雄酮、诺龙、丙酸诺龙、司坦唑醇、美伦孕酮、黄体酮11种蛋白同化激素的高效液相色谱－串联质谱（HPLC－MS/MS）法。样品采用乙腈提取,经PSA粉净化后上机测定。采用Phenomenex C18（100 mm × 2.1 mm,2.6 μm）色谱柱,以0.01%甲酸溶液－乙腈作为流动相进行梯度洗脱,电喷雾离子源正离子模式检测,同位素内标法定量。结果表明,11种蛋白同化激素的线性范围为1 ~ 100 ng/mL,相关系数均为0.999,检出限为20 μg/kg,定量下限为50 μg/kg。50、250、500 μg/kg加标水平下,鸡配合饲料中各蛋白同化激素的回收率为94.5% ~ 111%,日内相对标准偏差（RSD）和日间RSD均不大于13%;猪配合饲料中各蛋白同化激素的回收率为90.1% ~ 109%,日内RSD不大于9.0%,日间RSD不大于8.8%。实际样品中检出睾酮和勃地龙,含量分别为9.09 ~ 14.68 mg/kg和1.22 ~ 1.84 mg/kg。该方法可为饲料中蛋白同化激素的滥用监管提供技术支撑。     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定动物肌肉组织和鸡蛋中残留的11种甾体激素类药物

建立了采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)同时测定猪、牛、羊和鸡肌肉组织及鸡蛋中睾酮、甲基睾酮、黄体酮、群勃龙、勃地龙、诺龙、美雄酮、司坦唑醇、丙酸诺龙、丙酸睾酮及苯丙酸诺龙等11种甾体激素多残留的分析方法。试样在碱性条件下用叔丁基甲醚提取,冷冻离心脱脂净化,以乙腈和甲酸水溶液为流动相,梯度洗脱,反相液相色谱分离。采用电喷雾离子化、多反应监测方式(MRM),对11种甾体激素同时进行定性定量测定。动物肌肉和鲜蛋中睾酮、甲基睾酮、勃地龙、美雄酮及司坦唑醇的检出限为0.3 μg/kg,群勃龙、诺龙、黄体酮、丙酸诺龙、丙酸睾酮及苯丙酸诺龙的检出限为0.4 μg/kg。在动物组织及鸡蛋中添加1,2及10 μg/kg 水平的药物回收试验中,睾酮、甲基睾酮、勃地龙、美雄酮及司坦唑醇的回收率均在62.3%～105%之间,相对标准偏差为0.5%～15%;群勃龙、诺龙、黄体酮、丙酸诺龙、丙酸睾酮及苯丙酸诺龙的回收率大于50.0%,相对标准偏差小于16%。11种甾体激素在1～100 μg/L范围内,线性关系良好,相关系数都大于0.99。该方法的样品前处理简单、快速,测定灵敏、准确,选择性好,可满足动物源食品中甾体激素类药物多残留的同时测定。     

气相色谱与串联质谱联用检测血清中脱氢表雄酮

在晚期前列腺癌雄激素全阻断治疗最终导致前列腺癌雄激素非依赖性的转变过程中,肾上腺分泌脱氢表雄酮(DHEA)被认为是重要的诱因。本研究主要利用睾丸摘除(去势)大鼠模型,对血清中DHEA浓度进行测定。采用了气相色谱与串联质谱联用(GC-MS/MS)技术,建立了高灵敏度的测定大鼠血清中脱氢表雄酮(DHEA)的方法。样品经过甲醇沉蛋白,而后固相萃取提取血清中微量的DHEA,通过七氟丁酸酐(HF-BA)衍生,采用GC-MS/MS测定。对固相萃取条件、衍生化条件以及质谱测定条件进行优化。DHEA在0.1~100μg/L范围内线性良好,相关系数r为0.9996;在2~50μg/L浓度范围内,加标回收率在99%~106%之间;相对标准偏差小于5%。本方法灵敏度高,选择性好,可满足临床对于血清样品中DHEA的测定要求。对去势大鼠血清中DHEA测定结果表明,去势后DHEA明显上升。     

气相色谱-串联质谱法检测化妆品中25种防腐剂

建立了气相色谱-串联质谱（GC-MS/MS）同时测定化妆品中苯甲酸及其酯类、对羟基苯甲酸酯类、苯氧异丙醇、氯苯甘醚、脱氢乙酸、2，6-二叔丁基-4-甲基苯酚、甲基氯异噻唑啉酮和甲基异噻唑啉酮等25种防腐剂的方法。化妆品样品经含0.1 mg/mL L（+）-抗坏血酸甲醇溶液超声提取，以2-辛醇、苯酚、七氯为内标，加入无水硫酸钠脱水，离心过滤后，用GC-MS/MS分析，内标法定量。方法的检出限为0.08~0.99 μg/kg。实验选取了水、乳液、膏霜型3种类型的化妆品基质，在4个加标水平下验证方法的准确度，25种防腐剂的加标回收率为82.3%~119.4%，RSD为0.2~14.3%（n=6）。该方法定性、定量准确，可有效用于化妆品中25种防腐剂的检测。     

气相色谱-质谱法测定茶饮料中6种利尿剂

提出了同时测定茶饮料中6种利尿剂的微波辅助衍生化-气相色谱-质谱法(选择离子监测模式)[GC-MS(SIM)]和气相色谱-串联质谱(GC-MS/MS)法。样品经乙酸乙酯提取,弗罗里硅土固相萃取柱净化富集后,以碘甲烷、丙酮、碳酸钾为衍生化试剂,采用微波加热使衍生时间缩短为8 min。GC-MS(SIM)和GC-MS/MS两种方法的日内和日间相对标准偏差(n=6)均小于10%,但GC-MS/MS法的检出限(3S/N)和测定下限(10S/N)远低于GC-MS(SIM)法的数值。应用GC-MS/MS法测定茶饮料中6种利尿剂,回收率在65.1%~108.5%之间。     

人尿中诺龙和炔诺酮代谢物的气相色谱-质谱分析

本文对合成的19-去甲雄烷醇酮的四个差向异构体混合物进行气相色谱分离,对诺龙和炔诺酮用药后,留取的人尿样通过化学预处理,MSTFA/TMSI衍生化反应,GC/MS分析,确证了尿样中诺龙的两个主要代谢产物为19-去甲雄酮和19-去甲原胆烷醇酮,炔诺酮的两个主要代谢物是四氢炔诺酮(THINE)的两个形式,可能是3α-OH-5α-THINE和3α-OH-5β-THINE,在炔诺酮代谢前期,还发现有诺龙的上述两个代谢物存在。     

超高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱法测定饲料中9种雄性激素类药物

建立了超高效液相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS)分析动物饲料中违禁添加的去氢睾酮(BOL)、表睾酮(epiAn)、氟甲睾酮(FT)、去氢甲睾酮(美雄酮)(MD)、甲睾酮(MT)、丙酸诺龙(NP)、诺龙(N)、丙酸睾酮(TP)和睾酮(T)9种药物的分析方法。样品经乙酸乙酯振荡提取,再用基质固相萃取方法净化处理后,采用UPLC-Q-TOF-MS分析检测。在电喷雾正离子模式和飞行时间模式下,输入各化合物的精确分子离子质量数得到相应的提取离子色谱图,以色谱峰面积进行定量分析。通过碰撞诱导解离模式(CID)得到各化合物碎片离子的精确质荷比,进一步对各化合物进行定性分析。各化合物的质量精确度均小于5×10-6,9种化合物在0～1000μg/L范围内均呈良好的线性关系,线性系数均大于0.99。除诺龙和去氢甲睾酮外,本方法对各药物的检出限(LOD)均低于6μg/L;去氢睾酮、表睾酮、氟甲睾酮、去氢甲睾酮(美雄酮)、甲睾酮、丙酸诺龙、诺龙、丙酸睾酮和睾酮的定量限(LOQ)分别为16,10,20,43,20,12,15,10g和16μg/kg。3个添加水平(LOQ,2LOQ,4LOQ)的回收实验表明,化合物的回收率在70.0%～99.7%范围内,相对标准偏差(RSD)均小于10%。本方法的定性准确度明显高于文献报道的方法,可用于饲料中的禁用雄性激素药物的测定。     

Effects of propyphenazone and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents on the synthetic and endogenous androgenic anabolic steroids urinary excretion and/or instrumental detection

This paper describes the effects of oral administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the endogenous and synthetic anabolic androgenic steroids urinary excretion as assessed by gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry. Experiments were carried out on 5 male subjects, with pathologies and/or diseases, treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To set up the individual baseline variability of testosterone and its main metabolites, urine samples were collected for 3 days, every 2 h prior to the administration of the drug(s); whereas the study of the effects of a single dose of each drug, here considered, on the endogenous androgen steroid urinary concentrations, was assessed by collecting urine samples for 2 days, every 2 h. Data obtained after drugs administration were then evaluated taking into account the individual baseline variability. The results showed that, only in the case of propyphenazone administration, the relative urinary concentrations of some testosterone metabolites were significantly altered. More specifically, the urinary levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, 11keto-etiocholanolone, 11β-hydroxyandrosterone, 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone, androsterone, etiocholanolone and some metabolite ratios decrease significantly, generally between 2 and 10 h after administration of the drug, whereas no effects were observed on urinary calculated concentrations of testosterone, epitestosterone, 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, 5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol and testosterone/epitestosterone ratio. The observed effects do not depend on alterations on pharmacokinetics (excretion/metabolism), but on steroid sample preparation steps (hydrolysis and derivatization) inhibition. More specifically the significant decrease of dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone metabolites urinary levels was due to a reduced yield of the steroid derivatization step for the presence in urine of the main metabolites of propyphenazone, namely hydroxyl-propyphenazone metabolites.     

Determination of 13C/12C ratios of endogenous urinary steroids: method validation, reference population and application to doping control purposes

The application of a comprehensive gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS)-based method for stable carbon isotopes of endogenous urinary steroids is presented. The key element in sample preparation is the consecutive cleanup with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of underivatized and acetylated steroids, which allows the isolation of ten analytes (11beta-hydroxyandrosterone, 5alpha-androst-16-en-3beta-ol, pregnanediol, androsterone, etiocholanolone, testosterone, epitestosterone, 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol, 5beta-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol and dehydroepiandrosterone) from a single urine specimen. These steroids are of particular importance to doping controls as they enable the sensitive and retrospective detection of steroid abuse by athletes.Depending on the biological background, the determination limit for all steroids ranges from 5 to 10 ng/mL for a 10 mL specimen. The method is validated by means of linear mixing models for each steroid, which covers repeatability and reproducibility. Specificity was further demonstrated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for each analyte, and no influence of the sample preparation or the quantity of analyte on carbon isotope ratios was observed. In order to determine naturally occurring (13)C/(12)C ratios of all implemented steroids, a reference population of n = 61 subjects was measured to enable the calculation of reference limits for all relevant steroidal Delta values.     

GC-MS determination of steroids related to androgen biosynthesis in human hair with pentafluorophenyldimethylsilyl-trimethylsilyl derivatisation

An efficient method for the simultaneous determination of eight steroids, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, androsterone, etiocholanolone, progesterone and pregnenolone, in human hair by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using d3-testosterone as internal standard is described. The method involves alkaline digestion, liquid-liquid extraction and subsequent conversion to mixed pentafluorophenyldimethylsilyl-trimethylsilyl (flophemesyl-TMS) derivatives for sensitive analysis in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. This method showed good overall repeatability and reproducibility of 4.88-11.24 and 3.19-9.58%, respectively. For the first time, the quantification of DHT, DHEA and pregnenolone in human hair has been achieved by GC-MS, testosterone was also quantified. The detection of four steroids in hair samples was possible in the concentration range 0.12-8.45 ng g-1. The other four steroids, androstenedione, androsterone, etiocholanolone and progesterone, were not detected. The detection limits for SIM of the steroids varied in the range 0.02-0.5 ng g-1, and the SIM responses were linear with correlation coefficients varying from 0.991 to 0.996 for most of the steroids studied. The concentrations of the four steroids detected were different in male and female hair samples.     

Factors influencing the steroid profile in doping control analysis

Steroid profiling is one of the most versatile and informative screening tools for the detection of steroid abuse in sports drug testing. Concentrations and ratios of various endogenously produced steroidal hormones, their precursors and metabolites including testosterone (T), epitestosterone (E), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androsterone (And), etiocholanolone (Etio), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (Adiol), and 5beta-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (Bdiol) as well as androstenedione, 6alpha-OH-androstenedione, 5beta-androstane-3alpha,17alpha-diol (17-epi-Bdiol), 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17alpha-diol (17-epi-Adiol), 3alpha,5-cyclo-5alpha-androstan-6beta-ol-17-one (3alpha,5-cyclo), 5alpha-androstanedione (Adion), and 5beta-androstanedione (Bdion) add up to a steroid profile that is highly sensitive to applications of endogenous as well as synthetic anabolic steroids, masking agents, and bacterial activity. Hence, the knowledge of factors that do influence the steroid profile pattern is a central aspect, and pharmaceutical (application of endogenous steroids and various pharmaceutical preparations), technical (hydrolysis, derivatization, matrix), and biological (bacterial activities, enzyme side activities) issues are reviewed.     

Multivariate optimization of a derivatisation procedure for the simultaneous determination of nine anabolic steroids by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

The medical commission of the International Olympic Committee forbids the use of anabolic androgenic steroids to improve sporting performances. Nine anabolic steroids (androsterone (A), nandrolone, estradiol, testosterone propionate, nandrolone-17 propionate, dydrogesterone, testosterone, epitestosterone, boldenone) and alpha-cholestane as internal standard were studied by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The derivatisation reagent employed for the derivatisation of anabolic steroids was a mixture of N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide (MSTFA), ammonium iodide and 2-mercaptoethanol (1000:2:6, v/w/v). Trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives were obtained. Anabolic steroids can be derivatised into one or two forms, mainly for androsterone into A-monoTMS and A-diTMS. The aim of this study was to research the optimization conditions of the derivatisation process (maximum yield of silylation reaction) of each anabolic steroid into only one form. A two-level factorial Doelhert design was used to determine the influence of different parameters and their interactions on each compound, thanks to response surface methodology. The parameters to be optimized were the reaction time and the temperature. The interaction "temperature-reaction time" is significant and has a positive effect on the improvement of the effectiveness of the derivatisation. Considering the large amount of information, often not convergent, a global desirability function was applied for multi-responses optimization. Thus, the optimized temperature and the reaction time of silylation were 85 degrees C and 24 min, respectively. Several GC/MS analytical parameters were also studied: linearity (regression coefficient upper than 0.99 for each compound, sensibility (range of concentration 0.05-0.30 microg/ml). Confirmatory experiments were applied to check the predicted values and to validate the model. The confirmatory assay responses are relatively close to the responses predicted. We observed satisfactory resolutions by GC/MS and a run lower than 12 min.     

Analytical procedure for steroid profiling valid for Athlete Biological Passport

Although various attempts have been made to eliminate doping in sport, hitherto they all have proved futile. Moreover, the main class of substances that jeopardises the fair play rule remains the same — anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). To date, longitudinal monitoring of the fluctuations of the endogenous steroids content for a given athlete is regardeded as the most effective approach to the detection of AAS abuse. This is based on the fact that the activity of the steroid biosynthesis pathway may undergo significant changes in response to the AAS administration. This paper presents the entire analytical procedure for quantification of steroids crucial for the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP): testosterone, epitestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androsterone, etiocholanolone, 5-α-androstandiol and 5-β-androstandiol. The procedure consists of a four-step sample preparation process followed by analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The limits of quantification for the substances listed above were; 0.44 ng mL^?1, 2.07 ngmL^?1, 1.24 ng mL^?1, 62.49 ng mL^?1, 36.20 ng mL^?1, 16.90 ng mL^?1 and 14.92 ng mL^?1, respectively. Aqueous solutions containing deuterated and non-deuterated steroids were used for calibration purposes. Subsequently, the validation parameters, e.g., precision, accuracy and recovery were evaluated for each substance individually.     

Determination of the deuterium/hydrogen ratio of endogenous urinary steroids for doping control purposes

The development and application of a combined gas chromatography/thermal conversion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/TC/IRMS) method for D/H ratio determination of endogenous urinary steroids are presented. The key element in sample preparation was the consecutive cleanup with high‐performance liquid chromatography of initially native and subsequently acetylated steroids. This strategy enabled sufficient cleanup off all target analytes for determination of their respective D/H values. Ten steroids (11β‐hydroxyandrosterone, 5α‐androst‐16‐en‐3α‐ol, pregnanediol, androsterone, etiocholanolone, testosterone, epitestosterone, 5α‐androstan‐3α,17β‐diol, 5β‐androstan‐3α,17β‐diol and dehydroepiandrosterone) were measured from a single urine specimen. Depending on the biological background, the determination limit for all steroids ranged from 10 to 15 ng/mL for a 20 mL specimen. The method was validated by application of linear mixing models on each steroid and covered repeatability and reproducibility. The specificity of the procedure was ensured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the sample using equivalent chromatographic conditions to those employed in the GC/TC/IRMS measurement. Within the sample preparation, no isotopic fractionation was observed, and no amount‐dependent shift of the D/H ratios during the measurement was noticed. Possible memory effects occurring during IRMS measurements were corrected by applying a simple rule of proportion. In order to determine the naturally occurring D/H ratios of all implemented steroids, a population of 18 male subjects was analyzed. Relevant mean Δ values among selected steroids were calculated which allowed us to study the metabolic pathways and production sites of all the implemented steroids with additional consideration of the corresponding ¹³C/¹²C ratios. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of multivariate statistics to the Steroidal Module of the Athlete Biological Passport: A proof of concept study

The Technical Document TD2014EAAS was drafted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in order to fight the spread of endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids (EAAS) misuse in several sport disciplines. In particular, adoption of the so-called Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) – Steroidal Module allowed control laboratories to identify anomalous EAAS concentrations within the athletes' physiological urinary steroidal profile. Gas chromatography (GC) combined with mass spectrometry (MS), indicated by WADA as an appropriate technique to detect urinary EAAS, was utilized in the present study to develop and fully-validate an analytical method for the determination of all EAAS markers specified in TD2014EAAS, plus two further markers hypothetically useful to reveal microbial degradation of the sample. In particular, testosterone, epitestosterone, androsterone, etiocholanolone, 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, 5β-androstane-3α,17β-diol, dehydroepiandrosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, were included in the analytical method. Afterwards, the multi-parametric feature of ABP profile was exploited to develop a robust approach for the detection of EAAS misuse, based on multivariate statistical analysis. In particular, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was combined with Hotelling T² tests to explore the EAAS data obtained from 60 sequential urine samples collected from six volunteers, in comparison with a reference population of single urine samples collected from 96 volunteers. The new approach proved capable of identifying anomalous results, including (i) the recognition of samples extraneous to each of the individual urine series and (ii) the discrimination of the urine samples collected from individuals to whom “endogenous” steroids had been administrated with respect to the rest of the samples population. The proof-of-concept results presented in this study will need further extension and validation on a population of sport professionals.     

Partial filling micellar electrokinetic chromatography analysis of androgens and testosterone derivatives using two sequential pseudostationary phases

Separation of anabolic and androgenic steroids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) has been little studied. Simultaneous separation of the endogenous alpha-epimers testosterone and epitestosterone has not been achieved with any electroseparation technique. Here, a partial filling micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (PF-MEKC) method is described for the analysis of three endogenous steroid hormones (androstenedione, testosterone, epitestosterone) and two synthetic anabolic steroids (fluoxymesterone, methyltestosterone). The resolution efficiency of single-isomer sulphated gamma-cyclodextrins and the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulphate and sodium taurocholate was exploited. The method is based on the sequential introduction of short plugs of two different pseudostationary phases into the capillary. The separation was completed in less than 10 min. The method can be used in quantitative analysis. Linear correlation was obtained between concentration and peak area of 0.996 or better. The repeatability (RSD) of the compound peak areas ranged from 3.6% (methyltestosterone) to 6.2% (androstenedione). Limits of detection were between 73 microg/L (testosterone) and 160 microg/L (fluoxymesterone). As a demonstration of the method, androstenedione, testosterone and epitestosterone were determined in a spiked urine sample.     

Determination of the exogenous character of testosterone in bovine urine by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

A new approach was developed in order to control testosterone abuse in animal production. A gas chromatographic-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometric (GC-C-IRMS) method was used to distinguish the exogenous character from the endogenous character of the main metabolites of testosterone (epitestosterone and etiocholanolone) in cattle urine. This method is based on a comparison between the carbon isotope ratio (13C/12C) of testosterone metabolites and those of testosterone endogenous precursors. After urinary steroid purification, extracts were acetylated with acetic anhydride and injected into the GC-C-IRMS system. In order to validate the method, testosterone enanthate was administered to a 4 year old cow. The 13C/12C isotope ratios of testosterone exogenous metabolites appeared to be significantly different to the 13C/12C precursor ratios and were detected until 3 weeks after the anabolic administration. These preliminary results appear to be promising for the difficult control of natural hormones in livestock.