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The metabolomics of urinary steroids was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in 25 patients with Cushing's syndrome without malignant potential and in 12 patients with malignant potential of adrenal neoplasms (Weiss score 1-3). Patients with adrenocortical adenoma (N=24) constituted the control group. In patients with Cushing's syndrome and malignant potential, increased urinary excretion of 16-oxo-androstendiol, tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol, and 16-hydroxypregnendiol, which had 100% specificity and sensitivity >90% for the diagnosis of malignant potential. Additionally, non-classical 5-ene-pregnenes (16-OHpregnenolone, 21-OH-pregnenolone, 3β,16,20-pregnentriol, and 3β,17,20-pregnentriol) were identified. The revealed changes in the metabolomics of steroids can be early signs of malignant potential in patients with Cushing's syndrome. In patients with malignant potential, three signs of reduced activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 were detected and in patients without malignant potential, one sign was found. In patients with and without malignant potential, three signs increased activity of 5β-reductase were found.

Steroid conjugates, which often occur as metabolites, are challenging to characterize. One application is female-mouse urine, where steroid conjugates serve as important ligands for the pheromone-sensing neurons. Although the two with the highest abundance in mouse urine were previously characterized with mass spectrometry (MS) and NMR to be sulfated steroids, many more exist but remain structurally unresolved. Given that their physical and chemical properties are similar, they are likely to have a sulfated steroid ring structure. Because these compounds occur in trace amounts in mouse urine and elsewhere, their characterization by NMR will be difficult. Thus, MS methods become the primary approach for determining structure. Here, we show that a combination of MS tools is effective for determining the structures of sulfated steroids. Using 4-pregnene analogs, we explored high-resolving power MS (HR-MS) to determine chemical formulae; HD exchange MS (HDX-MS) to determine number of active, exchangeable hydrogens (e.g., OH groups); methoxyamine hydrochloride (MOX) derivatization MS, or reactive desorption electrospray ionization with hydroxylamine to determine the number of carbonyl groups; and tandem MS (MS(n)), high-resolution tandem MS (HRMS/MS), and GC-MS to obtain structural details of the steroid ring. From the fragmentation studies, we deduced three major fragmentation rules for this class of sulfated steroids. We also show that a combined MS approach is effective for determining structure of steroid metabolites, with important implications for targeted metabolomics in general and for the study of mouse social communication in particular.

In 21-hydroxylase deficiency, urinary metabolites of 21-deoxycortisol, mainly derived from its 11oxo form 21-deoxycortisone, are indicators of intra-adrenal overproduction of 17-hydroxyprogesterone. In affected neonates these metabolites are numerous and most have not been previously described. This work forms the concluding part of a comprehensive study of urinary steroids, aiming to enhance the diagnosis of this disorder and to further elucidate steroid metabolism in neonates. Cortisol metabolites found in untreated patients, similarly almost exclusively present in their 11oxo form in neonates, have been included for completeness. Steroids were analyzed, after extraction and enzymatic conjugate hydrolysis, as methyloxime-trimethylsilyl ether derivatives on gas-chromatographs coupled to quadrupole and ion-trap mass-spectrometers. GC-MS and GC-MS/MS spectra were used together to determine the structure of hitherto undescribed 11oxo-pregnane(enes). Few GC-MS features were associated with the presence of the non-derivatizeable 11oxo group in pregnane(ene)s. GC-MS/MS contributed only to the characterization of structures outside the C-ring, as described in the preceding parts of this study. Parallels were found between the metabolism of 21-deoxycortisone and cortisone. The major metabolic pathway was that of classical 3α,5β-reduction with a prominent further hydroxylation, predominantly at C6. Oxidation of the 6-hydroxyl was also common. We conclude that further oxygenated metabolites of 21-deoxycortisone have potential as more reliable markers of 21-hydroxylase deficiency in the early neonatal period, because their levels are higher during that period of life than for the classical marker 11oxo-pregnanetriol., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Urine from neonates with 21-hydroxylase deficiency contains a large range of metabolites of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 21-deoxycortisol and androgens but few have been previously described. We present the second part of a comprehensive project to characterize and identify these in order to enhance diagnosis and to further elucidate neonatal steroid metabolism. Steroids were analyzed, after extraction and enzymatic conjugate hydrolysis, as methyloxime-trimethylsilyl ether derivatives on gas-chromatographs coupled to quadrupole and ion-trap mass-spectrometers. GC-MS and GC-MS/MS spectra were used together to determine the structure of the A- and B-rings containing an oxo group. Fragmentations indicating presence of 3-, 6-, and 7-oxo groups and also 1β-, 2α-, 4β-, and 6β-hydroxyls are presented and discussed for the first time. Interpretation was aided by comparison with spectra of available relevant standards, of oxidation products of standards and urinary metabolites and of deuterated derivatives. Endogenous 1-enes and 2(3)-ene artifacts of non-hydrolyzed 3α-sulfates are also reported. D-ring and side chain structure was determined according to our previously published criteria. Likely metabolic relationships were also explored. We conclude that GC-MS combined with GC-MS/MS allows identification of the A- and B-ring structure of pregnane and pregnenes in the presence of an oxo group on one of these rings. Major oxygenations are 1β, 15β, 16α and 21-hydroxy and 6- and 7-oxo groups. Minor positions of hydroxylation are those at 2α, 4β and 6β. Three major metabolic streams exist in affected neonates in addition to the classical 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnane pathway, i.e. these of the 3-oxo-4-enes as well as 3α- and 3β-hydroxy-5α-anes., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We describe an ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC MS/MS) method suitable for a routine laboratory to determine endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoids in plasma, plasma ultrafiltrate, urine and saliva in a single analytical run. After addition of a multi-analyte internal standard, a standardised sample preparation procedure with solid phase extraction followed, before injecting into a tandem mass spectrometer with positive mode electron spray ionisation and multiple reactant monitoring acquisition. The chromatography time was 3min. The limit of quantitation for cortisol and cortisone in plasma was 3.75nmol/L and linearity extended to 2000nmol/L. The limit of quantitation for cortisol in plasma ultrafiltrate and saliva was 0.6nmol/L. The limit of quantitation for 11-deoxycortisol and prednisolone was 5nmol/L and for dexamethasone 1nmol/L. The intra-assay CV was <5% and the inter-assay CV <10% for all analytes in all matrices. Comparison with an immuno-assay (IA) plasma cortisol method resulted in a regression equation of UHPLC=0.79×IA+31.12 with R(2)=0.960 (p<0.0001). Comparison with a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) cortisol method yielded a regression equation of UHPLC=1.06×HPLC+9.82, R(2)=0.992 (p<0.0001). The simultaneous measurement of endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoids contributed to patient care in cases with dexamethasone and metyrapone dynamic tests and unsuspected therapeutic glucocorticoid use., (Crown Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Steroid metabolites in urine from neonates with 21-hydroxylase deficiency are predominantly polyhydroxylated 17-hydroxyprogesterone and androgen metabolites, and most have incompletely defined structure. This study forms part of a comprehensive project to characterize and identify these in order to enhance diagnosis and to further elucidate neonatal types of steroid metabolism. Steroids were analyzed, after extraction and enzymatic conjugate hydrolysis, as methyloxime-trimethylsilyl ether derivatives on gas-chromatographs coupled to quadrupole and ion-trap mass-spectrometers. GC-MS and GC-MS/MS spectra, obtained with constant excitation conditions, were used together to determine the structure of the D-ring and the side chain of 20-oxo and 20-hydroxy pregnane(ene)s without oxo groups on the A-, B-, and C-ring. All possible combinations of D-ring and side chain configuration were considered. Most fragmentations could be interpreted as partial or complete D-ring cleavages with loss of the side chain, aided by comparison with spectra of deuterated derivatives and of borohydride reduced metabolites. Possible rearrangement ions are also discussed. More than 140 endogenous metabolites were characterized. GC-MS/MS was especially beneficial for characterization of compounds with 16,17-dihydroxy-20-oxo structure, interpreted as markers of intra-uterine enzyme induction. It also assisted the differentiation of 16-hydroxy-20-oxo metabolites, present in urine of non-affected neonates, from the diagnostic 17-hydroxy-20-oxosteroids and enabled the detection of 15,17-dihydroxy-20-oxo compounds in low concentrations. The presence of 17,21-dihydroxylated pregnane(ene)s despite the deficit in CYP21A2 is discussed. We conclude that GC-MS combined with GC-MS/MS allows reliable identification of the structure of the D-ring and side chain of pregnane(ene)s without prior isolation, even when in low concentrations in urine.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a malformation syndrome associated with 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) 7-reductase deficiency. Although SLOS can be detected in an affected fetus before midpregnancy by measurement of 7DHC levels in amniotic fluid or chorionic villus cells, a noninvasive, more routine method is needed. Accordingly, this study was instigated to search for specific steroids in maternal urine in an affected pregnancy that reflect the 7-reductase deficiency of the fetus, ie, steroids retaining 7,8-unsaturation. Steroids were characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after urinary extraction, conjugate separation, and derivatization. Most steroids in maternal urine from a patient carrying a SLOS fetus were identified as progesterone metabolites, and these were entirely conventional, showing no evidence of additional unsaturation. Unsaturated homologues of the cortisol metabolites were also not detected. However, unsaturated homologues of pregnane-3,16,20-triols and pregnane-3,17,20-triol were found. Most likely, these are 7,8-unsaturated homologues, but 8,9-unsaturation is also possible because of the known activity of delta7-delta8-isomerase on 7DHC, which results in 8DHC being a prominent sterol in SLOS. Among these novel human steroids, the following were provisionally characterized: 5beta-pregn-7(or 8)-ene-3alpha,17alpha,20alpha-triol, 5beta-pregn-7(or 8)-ene-3alpha,16alpha,20alpha-triol, and 5alpha-pregn-7(or 8)-ene-3,16alpha,20alpha-triol. Confirmation of the position of unsaturation will require steroid synthesis. These novel steroids are not present in normal pregnancy urine and, therefore, are valuable for prenatal diagnosis of SLOS. In addition, separate studies have shown that 5beta-pregn-7(or 8)-ene-3alpha,17alpha,20alpha-triol is present in urine of children and adults with SLOS, and so is a useful analyte for confirmation of the disorder throughout life.

The diagnosis of non-classical 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency (NC-3BHSD) is made either on the basis of significantly elevated serum levels of basal and post-ACTH 5-ene-steroids or by the presence of elevated urinary 5-ene-steroid metabolites. There has been only one report to date describing a single patient where the diagnosis was based on both serum and urinary 5-ene-steroid levels. We, therefore, measured both serum 5-ene-steroid responses to ACTH 1-24 (by RIA) and urinary 5-ene-steroid metabolites (GC-MS) in 42 hirsute premenopausal women. While the serum 5-ene-steroid profile was consistent with NC-3BHSD in 5 women, only 2 of them had increased excretion of 5-ene-steroid metabolites. Elevated 5-ene-steroid excretion was also observed in several patients with normal serum 5-ene-steroids. Detection of NC-3BHSD by either elevated serum 5-ene-steroids or increased urinary excretion of their metabolites in isolation may not therefore be reliable.

The urine of a 6-day-old prematurely born female infant (birth weight 1060 g) suspected of having a 21-OH-deficiency showed no steroid abnormalities on capillary GLC analysis. Using GC-MS tetrahydrocortisone (THE) and also 3 alpha, 17 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-pregnane-20-one (17-OH-Polone) were absent, but two androstanetriolone peaks were observed. In the urine collected on day 9 THE was absent, but a large amount of 3 alpha, 11 beta-dihydroxy-5-alpha-androstane-17-one (11-HA) was found by GC-MS to be contaminated by a small amount of 17-OH-Polone. The next urine specimen collected on the 22nd day while the child received cortisol therapeutically showed the characteristic steroid profile for the diagnosis 21-OH deficiency, large peaks of 17-OH-Polone, pregnanetriol (P3) and 11-keto-pregnanetriol (11-keto-P3). Over the next few weeks two other compounds were found to have been excreted in relatively large amounts, 3 xi, 16 xi, 17 xi, 20 xi-pregnanetetrol (16-OH-P3) and surprisingly also a 21-hydroxylated compound, namely 3 xi, 20 alpha, 21-trihydroxy-5-pregnene. These same two compounds were also found in the urine of another infant with suspected 21-OH deficiency. The urinary steroid excretion patterns characteristic for 21-OH deficiency are dependent on the maturity and age of the infant. In the prematurely born infant androstanetriolones appear in the urine before 17-OH-Polone. The occurrence of these different steroid excretion patterns is tentatively explained.

Steroid profiles of women suffering from idiopathic hirsutism show in more than 50% of the cases of 10--100 fold increase in the excretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) compared with normal values. The excretion of DHEA was reduced much more than that of other 17-ketosteroids if the adrenals (NNR) were suppressed by dexamethasone (DXM). Within one week they reached values at the compound noise level of the gas chromatograms. If the ovaries were stimulated with human chorionic gonadotropin during continued suppression of the NNR with DXM no increase of DHEA could be detected.

A method for the specific determination of 15 free, non-metabolized steroid hormones in human urine is described. The steroids progesterone (P), androstenedione (AD), pregnenolone (PL), 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T), 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OHP), 17-OH-pregnenolone (17-PL), 11-deoxycortisol (S), 18-OH-11-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC), corticosterone (B), aldosterone (Aldo), cortisol (F), and 18-OH-corticosterone (18-OH-B) were extracted from 2 ml urine samples by a solid-phase technique, subjected to automatic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and finally quantitated by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The combination of HPLC and RIA provides a high specificity of steroid estimates. The automatic mode of HPLC renders the method quite suitable for series analyses in research or for routine purposes. Precision and accuracy are satisfactory, and comparable with the level commonly achieved in RIA techniques. The mean values (nmol/24 h) of reference ranges established from 32 normal males were as follows: P: 0.36; AD: 9.76; PL: 0.90; DHT: 0.61; DHEA: 6.76; T: 1.43; DOC: 0.35; 17-OHP: 1.03; 17-PL: 0.20; S: 0.24; 18-OH-DOC: 2.11; B: 1.49; Aldo: 0.46; F: 68.3; 18-OH-B: 5.41. This highly practicable method may be particularly useful for the further investigation of the physiological or diagnostic significance of the non-conjugated, non-metabolized fraction of steroid hormones in urine.

A semiautomatic capillary gas-liquid chromatographic method for the determination of urinary steroids has been developed. Trimethylsilylenol ethers were used as steroid derivatives instead of the more common methoxime trimethylsilyl ethers. The diagnosis of the various enzymatic defects causing congenital adrenal hyperplasia can be made using the characteristic pattern of urinary steroid chromatograms. Furthermore, the method presented can be used routinely to monitor therapeutic control in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Reference data for patients of different age groups under good therapeutic control are presented.

Urinary pregnanetriol and delta 5-pregnenetriol were determined in 90 normal women and in 90 women with idiopathic hirsutism of comparable age group. When group Student's "t"-test was carried out, the mean steroid excretion values in hirsute women were found to be significant with delta 5-pregnenetriol more significant than pregnanetriol. Of the 90 women with hirsutism, 8 patients had pregnanetriol and delta 5-pregnenetriol values higher than normal. When, on the basis of these elevated values, the women were sent for a thorough gynaecological investigation, they were found to have the polycystic ovary syndrome. After wedge resection, the diagnosis was confirmed and the urinary excretion of pregnanetriol and delta 5-pregnenetriol came down to a normal level. This study shows that, in the case of women with idiopathic hirsutism suspected of any ovarian disorder, the measurement of these two steroids could be of diagnostic importance.

Metabolites of corticosteroids that contain the 21-oic acid moiety are found in human urine. The acids from neutral steroids and urinary pigments have been separated by passing the mixture through a column of polyethyleneimine cellulose. The acids adhering to the column are quantitatively eluted with dilute formic acid. The purified preparation is suitable for derivatization and chromatographic analysis.

The author describes two methods of simultaneous estimation of pregnanetriolone, pregnanetetrol and delta 5-pregnenetriol. These estimations may be carried out at the same time as those of pregnanediol and pregnanetriol. The first method is based on spectrophotometry of derivatives obtained with 80 % sulphuric acid. The second demands gas chromatography. It permitted us to verify the specificity of the first. Its specificity was also verified by coupling with mass spectrometry. These estimations are used in the diagnosis of deficiencies of 21 hydroxylase and 3-beta hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase from the adrenal cortex. The values frequently obtained for delta 5-pregnenetriol are given.

The compounds named in the title were prepared by routes which included the reduction of suitable 16 alpha,17-epoxypregnan-20-ones with aluminium amalgam to give 16 alpha-hydroxypregnan-20-ones, and reduction of the 20-oxo function either with sodium borohydride to obtain the 3,16 alpha,20 beta-triols or with lithium-liquid ammonia to obtain the 3,16 alpha,20 alpha-triols.

A urinary steroid profile from a patient with suspected 3 beta-HSD deficiency was prepared using capillary gas chromatography, employing only enzymatic deconjugation with Helix pomatia juice. In the chromatogram only very small peaks of dehydroepiandrosterone and 5-pregnenetriol were visible apart from other, for the diagnosis non-significant, peaks. However, after repeating the analysis including an additional solvolysis step, highly significant peaks of DHEA and 5-pregnenetriol became apparent, which suggests the necessity for a solvolysis step for a positive proof of 3 beta-HSD deficiency by urinary steroid profiling.

Ketosteroids, the excretory metabolities of adrenal and gonadal steroids, can be analyzed individually in urine by a simple extraction procedure followed by separation and quantitation by the use of gas/liquid chromatography. The ketosteroids quantitatively detected by the technique are androsterone, etiocholanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 11-hydroxyandrosterone, 11-hydroxyetiocholanolone, 11-ketandrosterone, and 11-ketoetiocholanolone. Other steroid metabolities detected are pregnanediol, pregnanetriol, delta5-pregnenetriol, and 11-ketopregnanetriol. In comparison with concentrations of these steroids observed in urine specimens collected from healthy individuals, abnormal results occur in specimens from patients with testicular disease, Cushing's syndrome, adrenal hyperplasia, and several types of female hirsutism. Characteristic profiles for each of these diseases are presented.