Analysis of Metabolic Characteristics of Epristeride in Zebrafish Based on LC-Q-TOF MS and Its Potential Applications in Doping Control
January 2026
in “
RSC Advances
”
TLDR Epristeride's metabolism in zebrafish helps improve doping detection methods.
This study investigates the metabolic characteristics of epristeride, a 5α reductase inhibitor, using a zebrafish model and LC-Q-TOF MS to aid in anti-doping efforts. Researchers identified 11 metabolites of epristeride, including 4 phase I and 7 phase II metabolites, through reactions like oxidation, methylation, and glucuronide conjugation. Omics analysis suggested that <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethyldecylamine oxide (DDAO) could be a potential biomarker with an AUC value of 0.80. Epristeride was found to significantly affect purine metabolism and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. These insights enhance the understanding of epristeride's metabolic fate, supporting the development of precise detection methods in doping control.