Long-term administration of testosterone enanthate to normal men : alterations of the urinary profile of androgen metabolites potentially useful for detection of testosterone misuse in sport

• Published in: The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 179 - 189
• Main Authors: DEHENNIN, L, MATSUMOTO, A. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Science 01.02.1993
• Subjects: Adult; Androgens - urine; Biological and medical sciences; Doping in Sports; Endocrinology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Substance Abuse Detection; Testosterone - administration & dosage; Testosterone - analogs & derivatives; Testosterone - pharmacology; Testosterone - urine; Human; Urine; Testosterone; Excretion; Treatment; Androgen; Metabolite; Hormonal investigation; Sex steroid hormone; Long term
• ISSN: 0960-0760; 1879-1220
• DOI: 10.1016/0960-0760(93)90026-s

Doses equivalent to 18, 72 and 216 mg testosterone (T)/week were administered for 6 months to eugonadal men. Urinary excretions of androgen glucuronides (G) were quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with stable isotope dilution during periods of control (without hormone treatment), T administration and recovery. The lowest dosage T administration did not affect the androgen profile, while higher dosages generally increased urinary excretions of T metabolites (TG, T sulfate, glucuronides of androsterone, etiocholanolone, 5 alpha- and 5 beta-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol) and decreased excretions of conjugates of epitestosterone (ET) and its precursor androgen 5-androstene-3 beta,17 alpha-diol. A dose-dependent decrease of urinary LH in response to T was also observed. The ratio (T/ET)G, which is the sole official criterium for assessment of T self-administration by athletes, increased above the threshold value of 6 in most of the subjects, but not all, after the two highest dosage T regimens, and returned to normal during the recovery period. False positive or negative testing emphasizes the need for improvement of testing procedures. In this regard, valuable complementary information may be gained from ratios such as TG/ET(Total), TG/LH, (T/5-androstene-3 beta,17 alpha-diol)G, (5 alpha/5 beta)androstane-3 alpha,17 alpha-diol and (5 alpha/5 beta)androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol.