GC-MS Determination of Steroids Related to Androgen Biosynthesis in Human Hair with Pentafluorophenyldimethylsilyl–Trimethylsilyl Derivatisation
January 1999
in “
The Analyst
”
TLDR The method accurately measures certain steroids in human hair, showing different levels in males and females.
The study described an efficient method for determining eight steroids related to androgen biosynthesis in human hair using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The method involved alkaline digestion, liquid–liquid extraction, and conversion to mixed pentafluorophenyldimethylsilyl–trimethylsilyl derivatives for analysis. It successfully quantified dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), pregnenolone, and testosterone in hair samples, with detection limits ranging from 0.02 to 0.5 ng g–1. The study found differences in steroid concentrations between male and female hair samples, although androstenedione, androsterone, etiocholanolone, and progesterone were not detected. The method demonstrated good repeatability and reproducibility, with linear SIM responses for most steroids.
