Studies on Neurosteroids XXIV: Determination of Neuroactive Androgens, Androsterone and 5α-Androstane-3α,17β-Diol, in Rat Brain and Serum Using Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry
July 2008
in “
Biomedical Chromatography
”
TLDR The methods accurately measured brain androgens, showing most 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol comes from outside the brain, while androsterone is both transported and made in the brain.
The study developed and validated a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method to quantify neuroactive androgens, androsterone and 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, in rat brain and serum. The method demonstrated high accuracy and reproducibility, with intra- and inter-assay relative standard deviations below 3.6% and accuracy values between 97.1% and 103.7%. The research indicated that most 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol in the brain originated from peripheral sources, while androsterone was both transported from the periphery and synthesized in the brain. Additionally, administering finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, significantly reduced brain levels of both androgens and increased the brain level of androstenedione, the precursor of androsterone.
