Formation of C19 11-hydroxysteroids by porcine Leydig cells.

In a previous study, we reported the presence of 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione and 11 beta-hydroxytestosterone in testicular vein blood from mature male pigs. Since C19 steroids with an oxygen function at C11 have not been recorded as products of steroid biosynthesis in normal mammalian testes, we have examined their possible production in purified preparations of porcine Leydig cells. Both androstenedione and cortisol were added as substrates in studies using cell incubations of Leydig cells from mature boars (greater than 8 months old). Steroids were recovered from media by solid-phase extraction and separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Peaks corresponding to retention times of authentic standard steroids were seen for both 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione and 11 beta-hydroxytestosterone from each substrate. Generally, lesser amounts of C19 11-oxosteroids were noted also. Definitive confirmation was made by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry for 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione in the media.     

Analysis of profiles of unconjugated steroids in rat testicular tissue by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method for analysis of unconjugated steroids in a rat testis is described. A combined solvent-solid extraction procedure, utilizing Lipidex 1000 and Sep-Pak C18, gives a 25-fold purified extract. Steroids in this extract are fractionated by straight phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a LiChrosorb DIOL column in n-hexane-2-propanol, 92:8 (v/v). Four fractions are collected and the steroids are converted to tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS), 3-enol-TBDMS, and mixed TBDMS-trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives using TBDMS- and TMS-imidazole with sodium formate as catalyst under conditions suitable for the steroids present in the respective fractions. The derivatives are purified by reversed phase HPLC in 100% methanol and are analyzed by GC-MS, using selected ion monitoring of the major ions of high mass. For quantification, a mixture of known amounts of ten 14C-labelled steroids, [3H]estradiol and [2H3]estradiol are added to the testis homogenate. The mean concentrations (ng/g wet wt) of the twelve steroids determined were: 4-androstene-3, 17-dione, 4.0; testosterone, 127; 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one, 4.5; 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, 5.7; 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, 1.5; progesterone, 5.5; 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 14.4; 3 beta-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one, 0.07; 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, 0.25; 3 beta-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one, 10.3; 3 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one, 0.95; and estradiol, 0.025. Variations between animals were large whereas testes from the same animal in most cases had similar steroid concentrations.     

Synthesis of free and sulphoconjugated 16-androstene steroids by the Leydig cells of the mature domestic boar

This study examined the involvement of sulphoconjugation in the biosynthesis of the 16-androstene steroids in Leydig cells of the mature boar, since the formation of steroid sulphoconjugates can reduce the levels of these steroids that accumulate in fatty tissue. Leydig cells were purified from testes of mature male pigs and incubated with pregnenolone, or various individual 16-androstene steroids for 10 min, 1, 4 and 8h. Sulphoconjugated steroids were recovered by solid-phase extraction followed by solvolysis. Profiles of unconjugated and sulphoconjugated steroids were analysed by HPLC. Steroids present in the sulphoconjugated fractions were purified, derivatised as O-methoxime/trimethylsilyl ethers (MO-TMS), and subsequently identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The principal metabolite produced from incubations with pregnenolone, androstadienol, androstadienone and 5alpha-androstenone was 3beta-androstenol. 16-Androstene steroids that were sulphoconjugated included 5alpha-androstenone, 3beta-androstenol and 3alpha-androstenol. Approximately 70% of the total amount of each 16-androstene steroid was in its sulphoconjugated form after incubations for 4h or more. The finding that sulphoconjugated 5alpha-androstenone was present in large amounts suggests that this steroid may be converted from a 3-keto to a 3-enol form which is subsequently sulphoconjugated. These findings emphasise the need to consider the impact of sulphoconjugation of the 16-androstene steroids and their role in contributing to boar taint.     

Determination of trichlormethiazide in bovine milk by high-performance liquid chromatography

A liquid chromatographic procedure was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of trichlormethiazide (TCMTZ) in bovine milk. Whole milk was defatted by initial centrifugation at 4°C. The resulting skim milk was treated with lead acetate and acetonitrile, vortex mixed, and centrifuged. The acetonitrile from the supernatant was back extracted in ethyl acetate. The organic solvent mixture which contained TCMTZ was further treated with sodium tungstate, vortex mixed, and centrifuged. The top organic layer was removed and evaporated to dryness; the resulting residue was reconstituted in the mobile phase, and the final extract was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC conditions employed included a polymer column, a mobile phase consisting of 30% acetonitrile or 30% acetonitrile–tetrahydrofuran (2:1, v/v) in a phosphate buffer (pH 3), and a UV detection at 225 nm. The average recoveries of TCMTZ from milk fortified at 7, 14, 35, 70, and 140 ppb were 88, 93, 117, 110, and 99%, respectively, with corresponding C.V. values of 7, 18, 11, 9, and 21%. The method was validated by assaying milk obtained from a cow dosed with Naquasone. TCMTZ concentration was detected only in the 8 h post dose milk samples and was determined to be 6 ppb.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of alpha-acetyldigoxin in Digitalis lanata leaves.

An analytical method for the determination of alpha-acetyldigoxin in Digitalis lanata leaves by HPLC has been developed. The procedure consists of extraction of dry leaf powder with 50% methanol and cleanup by a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge prior to HPLC analysis. The quantitation is carried out by the incorporation of beta-methyldigoxin as an internal standard. HPLC is performed on an octylsilyl bonded silica column with acetonitrile/methanol/water (100/11/188, v/v). The effluent is monitored by uv absorption at 220 nm. The amount of alpha-acetyldigoxin per 100 mg of dry leaf powder is estimated at 5.55 +/- 0.21 micrograms (mean +/- SD). The average recovery of alpha-acetyldigoxin from added samples is 97.2%. The present method is sensitive, reliable, and relatively simple. Application of this HPLC method to the analysis of samples obtained by fermentation of the leaf powder is also demonstrated.     

Sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the lactone form and the lactone plus hydroxy-acid forms of the new camptothecin derivative DX-8951 in human plasma using fluorescence detection

A sensitive quantitation of the lactone form and the lactone plus hydroxy-acid forms of DX-8951, a camptothecin derivative, in human plasma has been investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This assay method consisted of two analytical procedures. In Procedure I, the lactone form was collected by the stepwise separation on a C₁₈ cartridge. In Procedure II, the lactone plus hydroxy-acid forms were collected using another batch of the plasma sample by co-elution of the two forms from a C₁₈ cartridge with acidic solution. The hydroxy-acid form of DX-8951 was quantitated from the difference of the lactone plus hydroxy-acid forms and the lactone form. Thereafter, these pre-treated samples were assayed by HPLC under the same HPLC conditions with a spectrofluorometer and a reverse-phase ODS column. The mobile phase was acetonitrile/0.05 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH 3) (18:82, v/v) at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min. For the assay of the lactone form and the lactone plus hydroxy-acid forms of DX-8951 in plasma, analytical method were validated over the range 0.2–50 ng/ml.     

Comparison of performance of C18 monolithic rod columns and conventional C18 particle-packed columns in liquid chromatographic determination of Estrogel and Ketoprofen gel

The performance of monolithic HPLC columns Chromolith (made by Merck, Germany) and conventional C18 columns Discovery (Supelco, Sigma-Aldrich, Prague, Czech Republic) was tested and the comparison for two topical preparations Ketoprofen gel and Estrogel gel was made. The composition of mobile phases - for Ketoprofen analysis a mixture of acetonitrile, water and phosphate buffer adjusted to pH 3.5 (40:58:2) and for Estrogel analysis a mixture of acetonitrile, methanol, water (23:24:53) - was usually not optimal for analyses at all types of columns. Thus an adjustment of components ratio was necessary for sufficient resolution of the compounds analysed. Various flow rates (1.0-5.0 ml/min) and mobile phases (usually increasing ratio of water content) were applied. Determination of active substances, preservatives and impurities and comparison of retention times and system suitability test parameters was accomplished. For Estrogel gel, following chromatographic conditions were found: using Chromolith Flash RP-18e monolith column, mobile phase was acetonitrile, methanol, water (13:24:63, v/v/v) and flow-rate 3.0 ml/min. Using monolith column ChromolithSpeedROD RP-18e, the mobile phase was acetonitrile, methanol, water (18:24:58, v/v/v) and flow-rate 4.0 ml/min. For the monolith column Chromolith Performance RP-18e, the mobile phase was acetonitrile, methanol, water (23:24:53, v/v/v), flow-rate 3.0ml/min. Analysis of Ketoprofen gel gave the best results using following analytical conditions: for monolith column Chromolith Flash RP-18e, mobile phase as a mixture of acetonitrile, water, phosphate buffer pH 3.5 (30:68:2, v/v/v) was used, at flow-rate 2.0 ml/min. For ChromolithSpeedROD RP-18e monolith column, acetonitrile, water, phosphate buffer pH 3.5 (35:63:2, v/v/v) was used as a mobile phase at flow-rate 3.0 ml/min. Chromolith Performance RP-18e gave the best results using mobile phase acetonitrile, water, phosphate buffer pH 3.5 (30:68:2, v/v/v) at the flow-rate 5.0 ml/min. It was proved that monolith columns, due to their porosity and low back-pressure, can save analysis time by about a factor of three with sufficient separation efficiency. Thus, for example 11 min long analysis can be performed in 4 min with comparable results.     

Optimization of a solid-phase extraction method for determination of indapamide in biological fluids using high-performance liquid chromatography

A new simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with UV detection for the determination of indapamide in biological fluids has been developed. Indapamide and internal standard were isolated from serum and whole blood samples by solid-phase extraction with RP select B cartridges. The chromatographic separation was accomplished on a reversed-phase C(8) column with a mobile phase composed of 0.1% (v/v) triethylamine in water (pH 3.5) and acetonitrile (63:37, v/v). UV detection was set at 240 nm. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 10.0-100.0 ng/ml for serum, and 50.0-500.0 ng/ml for whole blood, and the limits of quantification were 10.0 and 50.0 ng/ml, respectively.     

Liquid-chromatographic determination of erlotinib (OSI-774), an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor

A high-performance liquid-chromatographic (HPLC) assay with UV detection has been developed for the quantitative determination of erlotinib (OSI-774) in human plasma. Quantitative extraction was achieved by a single-solvent extraction involving a mixture of acetonitrile and n-butyl chloride (1:4, v/v). Erlotinib and the internal standard hydrochloride salt (OSI-597) were separated on a column packed with Nova-Pak C18 material and a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water, pH 2.0 (60:40, v/v). The column effluent was monitored with dual UV detection at wavelengths of 348 nm (erlotinib) and 383 nm (OSI-597). The calibration graph was linear in the range of 100-4500 ng/ml, with values for accuracy and precision ranging from 87.9 to 96.2% and 2.13 to 5.10%, respectively, for three different sets of quality control samples. The developed method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of erlotinib in a cancer patient at the recommended daily dose of 150 mg.     

Determination of epimedin C in rat plasma by reversed-phase high-performance chromatography after oral administration of Herba Epimedii extract

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the determination of epimedin C in rat plasma and applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats after administration of Herba Epimedii extract. After addition of carbamazepine as an internal standard plasma samples were extracted with ethyl acetate. HPLC analysis of the extracts was performed on a Hypersil ODS2 analytical column using acetonitrile -0.4% acetic acid (25:75, v/v) as the mobile phase. The UV detector was set at 260 nm. The standard curve was linear over the range 0.05-4.0 microg/mL. The lower limit of quantification was 0.05 microg/mL. The HPLC method developed could be easily applied to the determination and pharmacokinetic study of epimedin C in rat plasma after giving the animals Herba Epimedii extract.     

Hydroxylation of 19-norandrogens by porcine Leydig cells.

The metabolism of 19-norandrogens by porcine Leydig cells was investigated. Non-radioactive 19-norandrostenedione (19-Nor A) and [3H]19-nortestosterone (19-Nor T) were used as substrates in incubations with cell preparations from mature male pigs. Steroid products were separated by reversed-phase HPLC and material in selected peaks was rechromatographed before attempts to identify them by GC-MS. Both 11 beta- and 6 beta-hydroxylated derivatives of 19-Nor A were found and a third product (11-oxo-19-Nor A) was tentatively identified. The profile of radioactive metabolites from [3H]19-Nor T also favours the view of a capacity for hydroxylation of 19-norandrogens by porcine Leydig cells. The significance of these findings together with our earlier report of direct 11 beta-hydroxylation of C19 steroids by such cells remains to be examined.     

Simple and sensitive method for the determination of celecoxib in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A simple method is described for the determination of the cyclooxygenase-2 specific inhibitor celecoxib in human serum by HPLC using the demethylated analogue as internal standard. After protein precipitation with acetonitrile, samples were extracted with chloroform. Separation was achieved on a Prontosil C18 AQ column (150x3 mm I.D., 3-microm particle size) at a flow-rate of 0.35 ml/min using water-acetonitrile (40:60, v/v) as the mobile phase. Using fluorescence detection with excitation at 240 nm and emission at 380 nm, the limit of quantification was 12.5 ng/ml for a sample size of 0.5 ml of serum. The assay was linear in the concentration range of 12.5-1500 ng/ml and showed good accuracy and reproducibility. At all concentrations intra- and inter-assay variabilities were below 11% with less than 9% error. The method was applied to the determination of celecoxib for pharmacokinetic studies in man.     

Solid-phase extraction of urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 for reliable determination with radioimmunoassay.

In this paper we elaborate a one-step procedure for the selective extraction of urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 on octylsilyl silica cartridges for reliable determination with radioimmunoassay. The immunoreactivity profile of nonselectively extracted urine after HPLC separation showed that as much as 70% of the total 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 immunoreactivity comigrates with polar interfering material. Its amount could be considerably decreased using acetonitrile:water (18:82, v/v) as wash solvent before elution of 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 from the cartridge. Alternatively, very high immunoreactive purity was achieved without the preceding wash step by selective elution of the analyte with dichloromethane:hexane (70:30). After both optimized steps in the extraction procedure were combined, immunoreactivity was found only in HPLC fractions corresponding to the retention volume of authentic 11-dehydrothromboxane B2. The homogeneity of this immunoreactivity was confirmed by two-step HPLC separation. A significant correlation of values was observed between samples measured after extraction and those measured after subsequent HPLC purification. A high correlation was also found with concentrations determined by radioimmunoassay using four different antisera. The values of 24 h excretion of 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 in 10 male volunteers (595 +/- 114 ng/g creatinine, mean +/- SD) as well as the inhibitory effect of acetylsalicylic acid (80 +/- 13%) closely correspond with those reported in the literature. This selective extraction procedure provides a high validity in radioimmunoassay without requiring any further purification step.     

Quantification of lipopolysaccharides in outer membrane vesicle vaccines against meningococcal disease. High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the constituent 3-hydroxy-lauric acid.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay for quantification of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs, endotoxins) in outer membrane vesicle vaccines against meningococcal disease has been developed. The LPS constituent, 3-hydroxy-lauric acid, served as marker substance for the quantification. LPS from the vaccine was precipitated by ethanol and the fatty acid constituents, including 3-hydroxy-lauric acid, were released by acidic hydrolysis, collected and purified by solid phase extraction on C18 disc-cartridges and converted into phenacyl esters for UV detection at 240 nm. Quantification of the derivatized 3-hydroxy-lauric acid was achieved by HPLC using a Brownlee RP-18 reversed phase column with acetonitrile/water (68:32, v/v) as mobile phase. The method was found to be linear over the range 3-49 microg LPS/ml with a sensitivity of 1.6 (microg/ml)(-1). The repeatability (within-day precision) of the method at three levels (3-49 microg LPS/ml) was 6-14% relative standard deviation and the intermediate (between-day) precision was 7% relative standard deviation (at level 15 microg LPS/ml). The method has been successfully used in the quality control of a meningococcal B outer membrane vesicle vaccine, containing 4-8% LPS relative to protein (w/w), in our laboratory for three years.     

High-pressure liquid chromatographic separation of a mixture of corticosteroids, androgens, and progestins

Fifteen steroids including corticosteroids, androgens, progestins, and their derivatives were completely separated by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography on a ChemcoPak 7 ODS-H column in 50 min. The elution procedures were first with water:methanol:acetonitrile:isopropanol 55:32:6.5:7.5 (v/v) for 15 min and followed with a linear gradient elution for 35 min from 0 to 80% of water:methanol:n-butanol 40:40:20 (v/v). The applicability of this method was successfully demonstrated in the analyses of the biological samples of carp plasma, testis, and head kidney.     

High-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim in bovine milk using an on-line clean-up column

A bidimensional HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) in bovine milk has been developed and validated. After centrifugation, aliquots (150 microl) of milk samples were directly injected to a column-switching HPLC system. At the first step a RAM octyl-BSA column was employed to automatically remove proteins that otherwise would interfere with milk analysis. The mobile phase 0.01 M phosphate buffer pH 6.0:acetonitrile (95:5, v/v) was used in the first 5 min for the elution of milk proteins and then 0.01 M phosphate buffer pH 6.0:acetonitrile (83:17, v/v) for transfer SMX and TMP to the analytical column. The separation of SMX and TMP from one another and from other remaining milk components was performed on an octyl column using the mobile phase 0.01 M phosphate buffer pH 5.0:acetonitrile (82:18, v/v), which were detected by UV at 265 nm. The calibration graphs were linear in the concentration ranges of 25-800 ng/ml and 50-400 ng/ml for SMX and TMP, respectively. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were less than 15% for both drugs. The validated method was applied to the analysis of milk samples of twelve (two groups of six) cows after administration (intramuscular or subcutaneous) of a single recommended therapeutic dose of the SMX-TMP combination.     

A simple HPLC method for the determination of bifendate: application to a pharmacokinetic study of bifendate liposome

A rapid, sensitive and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detector (UV) has been developed for the determination of bifendate in 100 microl plasma of rats. Sample preparation was carried out by deproteinization with 100 microl of acetonitrile. A 20 microl of supernatant was directly injected into the HPLC system with methanol-double distilled water (65/35, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. Separation was performed with a microBondapak C(18) column at 30 degrees C. The peak was detected at 278 nm. The calibration curve was linear (r(2)=0.9989) in the concentration range of 0.028-2.80 microg/ml in plasma. The intra- and inter-day variation coefficients were not more than 6.55% and 6.07%, respectively. The limit of detection was 5 ng/ml. The mean recoveries of bifendate were ranged from 94.53% to 99.36% in plasma. The present method has been successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of bifendate liposome in rats.     

Qualitative thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of 1-substituted diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolates on aminopropyl-bonded silica gel.

High-performance liquid (HPLC) and thin-layer (TLC) chromatographic methods for the detection and quantification of diazeniumdiolates are described. The HPLC determinations were made using a Rocket Platinum NH2 column (7 x 53 mm, 100-A pore size, 3-microm particle size), under isocratic conditions with mixtures of acetonitrile, methanol, and water containing 0.1% diethylamine (v/v), at a flow rate of 2.5 ml/min, a column temperature of 22 degrees C, and UV detection at 250 nm. The TLC determinations were similarly made using Merck NH2 F254S precoated glass plates (approximately 2 x 5 cm, 5-microm particle size, 0.2-mm layer thickness) with mixtures of acetonitrile, methanol, and water containing 0.1% diethylamine (v/v). Preexisting traces of carcinogenic nitrosamines were detected in some samples of diazeniumdiolates. The methods provide a more efficient means of characterizing the purity of diazeniumdiolate samples prepared for use in biomedical applications than older procedures which rely on differential absorbance measurements at 250 and 350 nm, respectively.     

Determination of inositol hexanicotinate in rat plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection

A HPLC method with UV detection at 262nm was developed to analyze inositol hexanicotinate in rat plasma. Plasma samples were extracted with an equal volume of acetonitrile, followed by dilution with mobile phase buffer (5mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.0) to eliminate any solvent effects. Inositol hexanicotinate and the internal standard (mebendazole) were separated isocratically using a mobile phase of acetonitrile/phosphate buffer (35:65, v/v, pH 6.0) at a flow rate of 1.0mL/min and a reverse-phase XTerra MS C(18) column (4.6mmx150mm, 3.5microm). The standard curve was linear over a concentration range of 1.5-100.0microg/mL of inositol hexanicotinate in rat plasma. The HPLC method was validated with intra- and inter-day precisions of 1.55-4.30% and 2.69-21.5%, respectively. The intra- and inter-day biases were -0.75 to 19.8% and 2.58-22.0%, respectively. At plasma concentrations of 1.5-100microg/mL, the mean recovery of inositol hexanicotinate was 99.6%. The results of a stability study indicated that inositol hexanicotinate was unstable in rat plasma samples, but was stable in acetonitrile extracts of rat plasma for up to 24h at 4 degrees C. The assay is simple, rapid, specific, sensitive, and reproducible and has been used successfully to analyze inositol hexanicotinate plasma concentrations in a pharmacokinetic study using the rat as an animal model.     

Purification of human brain metallothionein by organic and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography under acidic conditions

A simplified high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the detection of metallothioneins, notably metallothionein-III, has been developed. In order to purify metallothionein, differential acetone precipitation at 50% (v/v) and at 80% (v/v) was employed on a 20% normal human brain homogenate. The reconstituted pellet was injected into a C₁₈ microbore reversed-phase HPLC column, equilibrated with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid, and developed at a flow-rate of 800 μl/min with a linear gradient from 0% to 60% acetonitrile in 0.094% trifluoroacetic acid for 60 min. Western blots indicated that metallothioneins-I and II eluted at 16% acetonitrile and metallothionein-III eluted at 37% acetonitrile.