Steroid hormones in horses are biologically active compounds that are synthesized from cholesterol and play a significant role in various physiological processes. These hormones include glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and sex steroids such as estrogens, androgens, and progestogens. They are involved in regulating metabolism, immune function, electrolyte balance, and reproductive functions. The levels of steroid hormones can be influenced by factors such as age, sex, stress, and disease states. Understanding their regulatory mechanisms and effects is essential for managing equine health and performance. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the synthesis, regulation, and physiological roles of steroid hormones in horses.
Spincemaille J, Coryn M, Vandekerckhove D, Vandeplassche M.Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), administered by untrauterine infusion and intramuscular injection, was used to induce oestrus and ovulation in non-cyclic mares. A satisfactory response rate (80% or more) was obtained and the dose (2-5--7-5 mg) and the time taken for ovulation to occur (up to 9 days) was the same irrespective of the route of administration. Only about one-half of the mares conceived to mating at the induced oestrus but the low conception rate could be attributed to the infertile condition of the mares. Plasma progesterone remained at basal levels after PGF2alpha and oestroge...
Hay MF, Allen WR, Lewis IM.Graafian follicles of various sizes obtained from mares at different stages of the oestrous cycle were examined histologically and histochemically for delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) activity and related enzymes. The 3beta-HSD activity was not found in the theca interna of any follicles but was present in the membrana granulosa of well-vascularized large follicles in the late luteal phase of the cycle and at oestrus. These findings indicate that pregnenolone cannot be converted into progesterone in the theca interna. It is suggested that this conversion occurs in the memb...
Flood PF, Marrable AW.The distribution of several hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD) was examined in a variety of equine placental and fetal tissues. The main points of interest were: (a) the lack of dehydrogenase activity in the gonad, (b) the appearance of a variety of HSDs in the trophoblast as early as 13 days of gestation, (c) the histochemical similarity between the cells of the trophoblast and the endometrial cup, and (d) the restriction of the strong endometrial 17beta-HSD reaction to those parts of the uterine epithelium directly apposed to the trophoblast.
Hay MF, Allen WR.Gonadal tissue obtained at about 50-day intervals from Days 60 to 300 of gestation was examined histologically, histochemically and in the electron microscope. The marked enlargement of the gonads (ovaries or testes) reached a peak around Day 250 and was caused by hypertrophy and hypoplasia of interstitial cells. These cells had all the ultrastructural characteristics of a steroid-secreting cell but delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) was not detected at any stage of their development. There was no significant change in the ultrastructure of the interstitial cells between Day...
Stickle RL, Erb RE, Fessler JF, Runnels LJ.Unilateral ovariectomy was performed on 3 mares affected with granulosa cell tumors. Tumor fluid in each mare was found to contain estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. In 2 mares, preoperative blood plasma concentrations of these hormones were comparable to those of a series of clinically normal mares. The other mare, which had a history of aggressive, masculine behavior, had higher testosterone content in the tumor fluid and in the preoperative blood sample. After surgical removal of the tumors, each mare developed follicles and ovulated with the remaining ovary. Each was eventually bred...
Bhavnani BR, Martin LJ, Baker RD.A mixture of 1-14C-isopentenylpyrophosphate and 3H-dehydroisoandrosterone was injected into a horse fetus intramuscularly during laparotomy, after which maternal urine was collected for 4 days. Steroid conjugates in the urine were extracted with Amberlite XAD-2 resin, hydrolysed and separated into phenolic and neutral fractions. From the phenolic fraction estrone, 17alpha-estradiol, equilin and equilenin were isolated. Only estrone and 17alpha-estradiol contained both 3H and 14C, while the ring B unsaturated estrogens contained only 14C. From the neutral fraction 14C-labeled 3beta-hydroxy-5alp...
Oh R, Tamaoki BI.The microsomal fraction (10 000–105 000 × g precipitate) of equine testes was fractionated into the smooth- and the rough-surfaced microsomal subfractions by a sucrose density-gradient centrifugation in the presence of CsCl. The validity of this fractionating procedure was confirmed by electron microscopic examination and also by chemical analysis of the RNA contents in these subfractions. The aromatizing enzyme system (19-hydroxylase and aromatase) which was concentrated in the microsomal fractions among the organellae was found to be localized in the smoothsurfaced microsomal fraction. Th...
Setchell BP, Duggan MC, Evans RW.Single intravenous injections of ovine luteinizing hormone (LH) in adult hamsters and rats had no effect on fluid secretion by the testes, as measured by the gain in weight or water content during a 10-h period after ligation of the efferent ducts (EDL). Neither was there any obvious effect on the liberation of spermatozoa, as judged by the total number of sperm in the unligated and EDL testes and from the concentration of spermatozoa in the secreted fluid, calculated from the difference between the number of sperm in the EDL and unligated testes divided by the difference in weight.
In adul...
Allen RG.The presently used procedures for the colorimetric determination of conjugated estrogens (equine) have been modified for the assay of tablets, capsules, liquids, and creams of low declaration per dosage unit. Modifications in sample chromatographic column preparation and elution have provided a more efficient extraction of the steroids.
Bhavnani BR, Short RV, Solomon S.A mixture of 14C-sodium acetate and 3H-cholesterol was injected into the umbilical circulation of a pregnant mare in the 3OOth day of gestation. The abdomen was closed and urine was collected for 3.5 days. The mare delivered a normal live foal 23 days later. Steroid conjugates present in the maternal urine were hydrolyzed and separated into neutral and phenolic fractions. From the phenolic “sulfate” fraction estrone, 17α-estradiol, equilin, equilenin, and 17α-dihydroequilenin were isolated. Only estrone and 17α-estradiol contained both 3H and 14C, while the ring-B unsaturated estrogens ...
Younglai EV.Follicular fluid from individual follicles was collected from nine mares in oestrus and the concentration of the following steroids determined by gas—liquid chromatography: progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, 19-norandrostenedione, epitestosterone, oestrone and oestradiol. The most vascular follicles, which were probably those destined to ovulate, tended to have the highest steroid concentrations. In these vascular follicles oestradiol was the main steroid found with an average concentration of 151 μg/100 ml.
In two out of three samples of follicular fluid taken from...
Hoffsis GF, Murdick PW, Tharp VL, Ault K.The plasma concentration of cortisol and corticosterone in the normal horse was determined by competitive protein-binding analysis (radiostereoassay). The mean plasma concentration of the 2 steroids in resting horses was 5.12 μg./ml., with standard deviation of 1.67 μg. There were no significant differences in the mean values according to age, sex, and pregnancy. Seemingly, diurnal variations in concentrations of the steroids existed in horses; values were high in the morning and low in the evening. Plasma values were increased in horses given corticotropin (acth) and were decreased in those...
Plotka ED, Eagle TC, Vevea DN, Koller AL, Siniff DB, Tester JR, Seal US.Five groups of 30 captive feral mares each were implanted with silastic rods containing estradiol (E) and/or progesterone (P): E only with 8 g, P only with 24 g, P+HE with 8 g P + 8 g E, HP+E with 12 g P + 4 g E, HP+LE with 12 g P + 2 g E. Arbitrary group designations were differentiated by relative high (H) and low (L) amounts of steroid. Thirty mares received silastic rods containing no hormone (CI). Five mares from each group were bled every 2 wk for 4 mo and monthly for another 5 mo. All mares were tested for estrus by allowing them to stand in an alley between two pens of stallions and vi...
McKinney AR.Control of the use of performance-affecting substances in the horse is critical to the integrity of a wide range of equine sports, with major implications for both animal welfare and revenue streams. One class of medications enjoying particular public notoriety is the anabolic-androgenic steroid group, as highlighted by the recent 'Big Brown' affair and Congressional inquiries into the use of steroids in professional sports, including horse racing, in the USA. This review examines the latest developments pertaining to the analytical detection of these substances in equine biological samples an...
Roser JF, Evans JW, Mikuckis GM, Adams TE, Hughes JP.As quantified by Scatchard analysis, a 27 000 g crude luteal membrane fraction contained a single population of unoccupied LH receptors characterized by high affinity, ka = 0.647 +/- 0.158 X 10(11) M-1 and low binding capacity, Rt = 4.91 +/- 0.78 X 10(-11) M/mg membrane fraction. Acceptable hormonal specificity, reversibility, saturability, high affinity and tissue specificity indicated that the binding protein was a physiological receptor. To ensure that the methods used for Scatchard analysis were valid, hCG was characterized for specific activity and maximum bindability, non-specific bindin...
Marshall DE, Mortishire-Smith RJ, Houghton E, Gower DB.Oestradiene-3,17-diol and oestratriene-3,17-diol (or the diol of Heard's ketone (3-hydroxy-5(10),6,8-oestratriene-17-one) have been extracted on a large scale from pooled urines and allantoic fluid obtained from pregnant mares. Initial purification was achieved using column chromatography, and further purification by high performance liquid chromatography or silver nitrate (argentation) thin layer chromatography. The steroids were characterised using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Positions of the double bonds in ring B of oestradienediol were deduced on the basis of results of ultravio...
Broadley C, Menzies GS, Bramley TA, Watson ED.Corpora lutea were obtained from mares at days 3, 10 and 14 after ovulation, and examined histologically. The morphology of isolated luteal cells obtained by either mechanical or collagenase dissociation of the tissue was examined and the cells stained to detect the steroidogenic enzyme delta 5, beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The ratio of large:small cells was significantly higher for cells obtained from mechanically dissociated luteal tissue than for cells obtained by collagenase dissociation (P < 0.01). Cells obtained by both mechanical and collagenase dissociation secreted progestero...
Reville-Moroz SI, Thompson DL, Archbald LF, Olsen LM.The in vitro incorporation of [3H]leucine into immunoprecipitable follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) was assessed for pituitaries from pony mares treated with testosterone propionate (TP) or oil (controls). Mares were treated every other day with TP (n = 4) at 350 micrograms/kg of body weight or with an equivalent volume of oil (n = 4). One day following the sixth injection of TP, each mare received an intravenous injection of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) at 1.0 micrograms/kg body weight and was bled frequently for 4 h. Treatment of mares with TP reduced F...
YoungLai EV, Jarrell JF.Granulosa cells were harvested from mares at various stages of the oestrous cycle and incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer with 1 beta,2 beta[3H]androstenedione as substrate. The release of 3H2O expressed as CPM/h/mg protein varied from 44000 to 768000 in follicles from 7 mares. The release of 3H2O was not significantly altered by luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone or pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin. There was a significant negative correlation between the release of 3H2O and the concentration of progesterone in the follicular fluid. Based on the assumption that the ...
Satué K, Fazio E, Cravana C, Medica P.The evidence that androgens regulate the folliculogenesis supports the hypothesis that intrafollicular testosterone (T), androstenedione (A) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) could be modified along follicular growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes and related relationships between systemic and intrafollicular T, A and DHEA in post-deviation and impending ovulation follicles. Sixty ovaries were taken after the slaughter of 30 clinically healthy mares. In according to the sizes, the follicles were classified in 3 different categories, as small (20-30 mm), medium (31-40 ...
Collins CW, Monfort SL, Vick MM, Wolfe BA, Weiss RB, Keefer CL, Songsasen N.To date, there has been limited research on manipulation of the estrous cycle in endangered equids. The objectives of this study were to assess the efficacy of using combinations of: (a) oral altrenogest and PGF2α, and (b) injectable altrenogest and PGF2α for manipulation of ovarian activity in Przewalski's mares. Reproductive cycles were monitored by assessing follicular changes with rectal ultrasound and changes in urinary steroid hormones. In Study 1, five cycling mares were treated with oral altrenogest (n=11 cycles) for 14 days. In Study 2, cycling mares were treated with oral altrenoge...
Ellerbrock RE, Podico G, Scoggin KE, Ball BA, Carossino M, Canisso IF.The expression pattern and distribution of sex steroid receptors and steroidogenic enzymes during development of the equine accessory sex glands has not previously been described. We hypothesized that equine steroidogenic enzyme and sex steroid receptor expression is dependent on reproductive status. Accessory sex glands were harvested from mature stallions, pre-pubertal colts, geldings, and fetuses. Expression of mRNA for estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2), androgen receptor (AR), 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-4 isomerase (3βHSD), P450,17α hydroxylase, 17-20 lyase...
Davis SD, Sharp DC.This experiment investigated steroid production by ovarian tissues, in vitro, of pony mares during vernal transition from anoestrus to the breeding season. Follicular dynamics were monitored to detect the first, second, third or fourth transition follicle, greater than or equal to 30 mm diameter or the first large post luteal follicle of the breeding season. Twenty-four hours after a large follicle was detected, theca (T) and granulosa (G) tissues were harvested. Separate and co-incubations of these tissues were conducted to determine steroid production in early transition (ET), late transitio...
Dumasia MC, Houghton E.The metabolism of 19-nor[4-14C]testosterone has been studied in the equine castrate. Following XAD-2 extraction of aliquots of the 0-24 h urine samples, the glucuronic acid and sulphate conjugates were separated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. After hydrolysis of the conjugates, the neutral phase I metabolites of 19-nortestosterone were extracted, purified and identified by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. In phase I metabolism stereospecificity was observed in the reduction of the A-ring with the formation of the 5 alpha, 3 beta-isomers of estranediol. Epimerization at C-17 and hydroxylatio...
Hay MF, Allen WR, Lewis IM.Graafian follicles of various sizes obtained from mares at different stages of the oestrous cycle were examined histologically and histochemically for delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) activity and related enzymes. The 3beta-HSD activity was not found in the theca interna of any follicles but was present in the membrana granulosa of well-vascularized large follicles in the late luteal phase of the cycle and at oestrus. These findings indicate that pregnenolone cannot be converted into progesterone in the theca interna. It is suggested that this conversion occurs in the memb...
Munro CD, Renton JP, Butcher R.Using a range of positive and negative sexual behaviour components, proceptivity of cycling, non-lactating mares and postpartum, lactating Pony mares was quantified around ovulation. Behavioural observations were compared to plasms concentrations of progesterone, total oestrogens and androstenedione. In addition, in cycling mares, comparison with plasma testosterone concentrations was carried out. Overall rejection behaviour by the mare was apparent both during dioestrus and during periods of basal plasma progesterone concentrations. Within cycling, non-lactating mares, and between postpartum ...
Thompson DL, Pickett BW, Squires EL, Nett TM.Sixteen stallions were castrated and 30 days later assigned to one of four treatments: (1) testosterone propionate (175 microgram/kg body weight), (2) 17 beta-estradiol-3-benzoate (44 micrograms/kg body weight), (3) a combination of both steroids or, (4) vehicle only. These dosage were administered every other day for 18 days. The dosages were then doubled and continued for 20 days. Concentrations of testosterone and estradiol in serum decreased rapidly after castration and stabilized within about 6 hours. Mean concentrations of testosterone and estradiol maintained by the steroids were 1.4 an...
Dierks C, Sieme H, Piechotta M, Lehner S, Merkt JC, Uphaus H, Klug E, Distl O.A female thoroughbred successful in horse racing was positively tested for high testosterone values. This horse neither showed stallion-like-behaviour nor signs of ambiguous external genitalia. The karyotype of this horse was 2n = 64,XY and the sex-determining region of Y (SRY) PCR was positive. Hair samples tested for naturally testosterone revealed values normal for stallions, and tests for eight synthetic testosterone esters remained negative. The phenotype, ultrasonographic examination, hormone status, cytogenetic evaluation and molecular diagnostics lead to the diagnosis of an XY testicul...
Meinecke B, Gips H.The aim of the present investigations was to characterize the endocrine changes in the peripheral plasma during the periparturient phase of mares with a known history of obstetrical disorders. Blood plasma samples from 9 mares (8 mares during parturition, 1 mare during abortion) were collected and the following steroid hormones were radioimmunologically determined: progesterone (P4), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), estrone (E1), estrone sulfate (E1-S), estradiol-17 beta (E2), estriol (E3), cortisol and transcortin. In general, with the exception of corti...
Plotka ED, Vevea DN, Eagle TC, Tester JR, Siniff DB.Homogeneous Silastic rods containing ethinylestradiol (EE) (1.5 or 4 g), estradiol-17 beta (E) (4 g) or progesterone (P) (6 g) were implanted into feral mares (Equus caballus) between 4- and 10-yr-old. Six treatment groups (greater than or equal to 10 mares/group) of non-pregnant mares received 36 g P and 12 g E (P+E), 36 g P and 8 g EE (P+HEE), 1.5 g EE (LEE), 3 g EE (MEE, 8 g EE (HEE) or control-implanted mares (CI). CI received implants containing no steroid. Two groups of pregnant mares received P+HEE or HEE. Stallions were placed with the mares 15 to 26 mo after implanting. Blood was coll...
Decloedt AI, Bailly-Chouriberry L, Vanden Bussche J, Garcia P, Popot MA, Bonnaire Y, Vanhaecke L.To ensure fair competition and to protect the horse's welfare, horses have to compete on their own merits, without any unfair advantage that might follow the use of drugs. Therefore, regulatory authorities list all substances that are not allowed in competition, including most anabolic-androgenic steroids. As zero-tolerance is retained, the question arose whether the consumption of mouldy feed could lead to the excretion of steroids, due to the biotransformation of plant phytosterols to steroids. A rapid ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analyt...
Owen M, Ferjak EN, Cavinder CA, McCarty KJ, Yankey KC, Hart CG, Burnett DD, Dinh T, Lemley CO.The objective of this study was to determine the activity of steroid- and eicosanoid-metabolizing enzymes in horses with varying BCSs. The BCSs of twenty non-pregnant, anoestrous mares were determined prior to euthanasia, and tissue samples were collected from the liver, kidney, adrenal gland, ovary and endometrium. Cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), 2C (CYP2C), 3A (CYP3A) and uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities were determined using luminogenic substrates. The MIXED procedure of SAS was used to test the effect of BCS on enzyme activity and differences between tissues. Activ...
Decloedt AI, Bailly-Chouriberry L, Vanden Bussche J, Garcia P, Popot MA, Bonnaire Y, Vanhaecke L.Traditionally, steroids other than testosterone are considered to be synthetic, anabolic steroids. Nevertheless, in stallions, it has been shown that β-Bol can originate from naturally present testosterone. Other precursors, including phytosterols from feed, have been put forward to explain the prevalence of low levels of steroids (including β-Bol and ADD) in urine of mares and geldings. However, the possible biotransformation and identification of the precursors has thus far not been investigated in horses. To study the possible endogenous digestive transformation, in vitro simulations of t...
Baltsen M, Bøgh IB, Byskov AG.Meiosis activating sterols (MAS) are pre-cholesterol sterols that can be isolated from follicular fluid (FF-MAS) or testes (T-MAS). Meiosis activating sterols trigger the resumption of meiosis in cultured meiotically competent oocytes. In the present work MAS, cholesterol and progesterone were assayed by HPLC in follicular fluids collected from pony mares at fixed days after the last ovulation. Follicles were divided into two groups according to whether they were aspirated before or after Day 17 after the last ovulation. The latter group was further divided according to whether the follicle di...
Bhavnani BR, Woolever CA.A mixture of [4,8,12-14C]farnesyl pyrophosphate and [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone was injected into a horse fetus im during laparotomy, after which maternal urine was collected for 6 days. Steroid conjugates in the urine were extracted with Amberlite XAD-2 resin, hydrolyzed, and separated into phenolic and neutral fractions. Estrone, 17 alpha-estradiol, equilin [3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),7-estratetraen-17-one], and 17 alpha-dihydroequilin [1,3,4(10),7-estratetraene-3,17 alpha-diol] were isolated from the phenolic fraction and their radiochemical purities were established. Only estrone and 17 alpha-estr...
Silberzahn P, Dehennin L, Zwaïn IH, Leymarie P.Testosterone has been identified by mass spectrometry in blood and follicular fluid aspirated from mature Graafian follicles of mares. Quantitative measurements made by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry have validated the determination of plasma testosterone made by radioimmunoassay. However, because of high levels of epitestosterone (17 alpha-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one) in the follicular fluid, radioimmunoassay overestimates the true concentrations of testosterone. The occurrence of testosterone in mare follicular fluid at a concentration which is two orders of magnitude higher than that in...
Fitzgerald BP.The purpose of this experiment was to investigate whether N-methyl-D,L-aspartate stimulated gonadotropin secretion in mares and to determine the response in two experimental paradigms where gonadotropin secretion is low or elevated. In Experiment 1, conducted during the breeding season (summer), eight long-term ovariectomized mares were treated daily for 21 d with progesterone plus estradiol (n = 4) or oil vehicle. Beginning on Day 14, each mare received, in a randomized design on alternate days, an intravenous injection of either 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 5.0 mg/kg NMA. Treatment with NMA was not accom...
Daels PF, Chang GC, Hansen B, Mohammed HO.We have characterized the testosterone secretion pattern during the first 80 d of pregnancy in mares and determined the sources that contribute to circulating testosterone levels during this period. Ten untreated, pregnant mares (Group 1), 10 altrenogest-treated, pregnant mares (Group 2), and 10 altrenogest-treated, pregnant mares in which the CL was eliminated by administration of PGF-2alpha on Day 16 (Group 3) were used in this study. Complete luteolysis occurred following PGF-2alpha administration in all mares in Group 3. Six of the 10 mares in Group 3 did not have an active CL until after ...
Dehennin L, Petit E, Bonnaire Y, Bruyas JF, Le Bizec B, Plou P.Rules of horse racing stipulate that pregnant mares may compete under definite conditions of date, because early pregnant status may be misused for the sake of enhancing physical performance by putative anabolic steroid action. Screening for pregnancy is generally performed by plasma equine gonadotrophin (eCG) immunoassay, which covers the period between Days 40 and 120. In common screening for urinary anabolic steroids performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, inclusion of two complementary criteria, i.e. the evaluation of total conjugates of 5(10)-estrene-3beta,17alpha-diol (EED) an...
Behrendt-Adam CY, Adams MH, Simpson KS, McDowell KJ.In this study, the roles of oestrogen and progesterone in the regulation of oxytocin gene expression in equine endometrium were examined. Anoestrous mares (n=19) were assigned randomly to one of the following treatment groups: control (vehicle control for 1 day; n=3); progesterone (250 mg progesterone per day for 6 days; n=4); oestradiol (5 mg beta-oestradiol 17-valerate per day for 6 days; n=4); oestradiol plus short duration progesterone (5 mg beta-oestradiol 17-valerate per day for 6 days followed by 250 mg progesterone per day for 6 days; n=4); and oestradiol plus long duration progesteron...
Kent MG, Schneller HE, Hegsted RL, Johnston SD, Wachtel SS.The XY Sex Reversal Syndrome of the horse is a condition associated with female or intersexual development in genetic males. In our previous study, 38 sex reversed XY mares were classified according to behavior, gross clinical phenotype, gonadal status, and H-Y phenotype. Four classes were described, ranging from potentially fertile female (Class I) to virilized intersex (Class IV). In the present study, serum testosterone concentrations were measured in 29 sex-reversed XY mares, 3 normal mares and 3 normal stallions. Serums were obtained during the breeding season (March-August), and were sto...
Houghton E, Teale P, Dumasia MC, Wellby JK.The negative ion chemical ionization mass spectra of the MO-TMS derivatives of the corticosteroids prednisolone, betamethasone and dexamethasone have been obtained using capillary column gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The spectra showed abundant diagnostic ions at m/z greater than 300 allowing for clear discrimination between the three steroid derivatives. A capillary column gas chromatographic mass spectrometric method using negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry has been developed to confirm the presence of the parent steroids in horse urine following the administration of...