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

Androgen-and estrogen-receptor mediated activities of 4-hydroxytestosterone, 4-hydroxyandrostenedione and their human metabolites in yeast based assays

4-Hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione, also named formestane, is an irreversible aromatase inhibitor and therapeutically used as anti-breast cancer medication in post-menopausal women. Currently, no therapeutical indication led to approval of its 17-hydroxylated analog 4-hydroxytestosterone, an anabolic steroid. However, it is currently investigated in a clinical trial for breast cancer. In context with sports doping, aromatase inhibitors are administered to reduce estrogenic side effects of misused anabolic substances or their metabolites. Therefore, both substances are prohibited in sports by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Analysis of urinary phase I and phase II metabolites showed similar results for both compounds. In the current investigation, 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione, 4-hydroxytestosterone and seven of their described urinary metabolites as well as 2 alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione were tested in the yeast androgen screen and the yeast estrogen screen. Androgenic effects were observed for all tested substances, except for one, which showed anti-androgenic properties. With regard to the yeast estrogen screen, estrogenic effects were observed for only two metabolites at rather high concentrations, while six out of the ten substances tested showed anti-estrogenic properties. In terms of the strong androgenic effect observed for 4-hydroxytestosterone (10(-8) M), 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (10(-8) M) and two more urinary metabolites, the yeast androgen assay may also be used to trace abuse in urine samples

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 17 alpha-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 17 xi-hydroxymethyl-17 xi-methyl-18-nor-5 xi-androst-13-en-3 xi-ol structure in the chlorinated metandienone analog dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (oral turinabol), in this study we investigated the formation of similar metabolites of metandienone and 17 alpha-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. 17 alpha-hydroxymethyl-17 beta-methyl-18-nor-5 beta-androst-13-en-3 alpha-ol and its 5 alpha-analog, were identified following an administration of methyltestosterone. In post-administration urines of metandienone, only the 5 beta-metabolite was detected. Additionally, 3 alpha,5 beta-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 17 alpha-methyl steroids with respect to the order of reductions in the A-ring, the participation of different enzymes, and alterations to the D-ring