This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reznik, Y. Articles by Leymarie, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Reznik, Y. Articles by Leymarie, P.

Urinary Nandrolone Metabolites of Endogenous Origin in Man: A Confirmation by Output Regulation under Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Stimulation

Service d’Endocrinologie (Y.R., C.C., J.M.) and Laboratoire de Biochimie B (P.L.) Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Côte de Nacre 14033 Caen; and Laboratoire de la Fédération Nationale des Courses Françaises (L.D.), 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Y. Reznik, M.D., Department of Endocrinology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Côte de Nacre, 14033 Caen Cedex, France.

19-Nortestosterone (nandrolone) is an anabolic steroid compound widely used as a doping agent by athletes. The analysis of its urinary metabolites, 19-norandrosterone (NA) and 19-noretiocholanolone (NE) glucuronides, allows the detection of surreptitious administration of nandrolone in sport. A threshold concentration at 2 µg/L urinary nandrolone metabolites is advocated by the International Olympic Committee for the detection of doping, but some controversy concerning the validity of this threshold arose from the demonstration of endogenous production of nandrolone in mammals, including humans. The regulation of human nandrolone production and its contribution in vivo to the process of aromatization remain unknown. In the present study 10 healthy men were successively submitted to insulinic stress and gonadal stimulation by hCG administration. Urinary NA and NE concentrations were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. NA was detected in basal urine samples from all subjects, with a mean urinary excretion rate (UER) of 3.17 ± 0.35 ng/h, whereas NE was detected in 4 of 10 (UER range, 0.8–4.7 ng/h). Insulinic hypoglycemia did not significantly modify mean NA UER despite random intraindividual variations between timed urine collections. After hCG administration, NA UER increased by 250% (P < 0.01) and estradiol (E₂) UER by 260% (P < 0.001). The maximum NA concentration obtained after stimulation was 0.43 µg/L. NA UER, plasma E₂, and E₂/T ratio peaked on day 1 after hCG administration, whereas plasma T peaked later on day 3. NA UER correlated with plasma E₂ (r = 0.61; P < 0.001) and E₂/T (r = 0.51; P < 0.001), but not with plasma T. In conclusion, insulinic stress did not significantly alter nandrolone metabolism, whereas the effect of hCG was a stimulation of NA excretion in all subjects, which constitutes strong support for the endogenous origin of low basal NA excretion. The comparative kinetics of NA UER, plasma E₂, and E₂/T ratio suggest a contribution of the aromatase process to nandrolone biosynthesis in man.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C Ayotte Significance of 19-norandrosterone in athletes' urine samples Br. J. Sports Med., July 1, 2006; 40(suppl_1): i25 - i29. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. M. Bagchus, J. M. W. Smeets, H. A. M. Verheul, S. M. De Jager-Van Der Veen, A. Port, and T. B. P. Geurts Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Three Different Intramuscular Doses of Nandrolone Decanoate: Analysis of Serum and Urine Samples in Healthy Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2005; 90(5): 2624 - 2630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R M N Kohler and M I Lambert Urine nandrolone metabolites: false positive doping test? Br. J. Sports Med., October 1, 2002; 36(5): 325 - 329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]