Analyze Diet
Drug testing and analysis2022; 15(3); 361-367; doi: 10.1002/dta.3406

Detection of the growth hormone secretagogue MK-0677 in equine hair following oral administration.

Abstract: MK-0677 (ibutamoren) is an orally active non-peptide growth hormone secretagogue that binds to the ghrelin receptor stimulating the secretion of endogenous growth hormone. It is one of the most prevalent performance-enhancing compounds currently available online and is potentially subject to abuse both in human and equine sports. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether it could be detected in equine hair following oral administration of MK-0677 mesylate to a Thoroughbred racehorse. MK-0677 and its O-dealkylated metabolite were extracted using an existing method for prohibited substances in equine hair and analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. This enabled the detection of MK-0677 in all hair samples collected, up to 209 days in mane and 358 days in tail. A follow-up methodology with an extensive wash procedure was carried out for selected hair samples, which unambiguously verified the presence of MK-0677. Wash criteria to differentiate between internal incorporation (via bloodstream) and external deposition (via sweat and sebum) was also assessed and indicated internal incorporation for the samples collected at later time points (≥52 days) and a combination of internal incorporation and external deposition for hair samples collected at the earlier time point (2 days).
Publication Date: 2022-12-19 PubMed ID: 36354265DOI: 10.1002/dta.3406Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores the detection of a growth hormone known as MK-0677 (ibutamoren) in horse hair. It studies the evidence of this hormone in the mane and tail of a Thoroughbred racehorse up to a period of about a year after oral administration.

Introduction and Research Objective

  • The article introduces MK-0677 as a high-performance synthetic hormone that is available online. It is potentially abused in horse and human sports since it triggers the secretion of natural growth hormones. The objective of the study is to detect the presence and assess the lifespan of MK-0677 in horse hair following oral administration.

Methodology

  • The researchers administered MK-0677 mesylate orally to a Thoroughbred racehorse.
  • They then extracted the hormone and its O-dealkylated metabolite from the horse hair.
  • They performed the extraction using an existing method for prohibited substances in horse hair.
  • The extracted samples were analysed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

  • After the analysis, the presence of MK-0677 was detected in all the collected horse hair samples.
  • The hormone was found to last up to 209 days in the mane and 358 days in the tail samples.
  • A follow-up method with a comprehensive washing procedure confirmed the unambiguous presence of MK-0677 in the selected hair samples.

Assessment of Incorporation

  • The researchers also evaluated criteria to distinguish between internal incorporation (when the hormone entered hair through the bloodstream) and external deposition (when the hormone is present in the hair due to sweat and sebum).
  • The results indicated internal incorporation for samples collected later (at least 52 days after administration).
  • For the earlier hair samples, collected 2 days after administration, it was a mix of both internal incorporation and external deposition.

Cite This Article

APA
Viljanto M, Cutler C, Taylor P, Habershon-Butcher J, Gray B. (2022). Detection of the growth hormone secretagogue MK-0677 in equine hair following oral administration. Drug Test Anal, 15(3), 361-367. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3406

Publication

ISSN: 1942-7611
NlmUniqueID: 101483449
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 3
Pages: 361-367

Researcher Affiliations

Viljanto, Marjaana
  • LGC, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Cutler, Charlotte
  • LGC, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Taylor, Polly
  • LGC, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Habershon-Butcher, Jocelyn
  • British Horseracing Authority, London, UK.
Gray, Bob
  • LGC, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Secretagogues / analysis
  • Hair / chemistry
  • Growth Hormone
  • Administration, Oral

References

This article includes 23 references
  1. Smith RG, Cheng K, Schoen WR. A nonpeptidyl growth hormone secretagogue.. Science 1993;260(5114):1640-1643.
    doi: 10.1126/science.8503009google scholar: lookup
  2. Chapman IM, Pescovitz OH, Murphy G. Oral administration of growth hormone (GH) releasing peptide-mimetic MK-677 stimulates the GH/insulin-like growth factor-I axis in selected GH-deficient adults.. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 1997;82(10):3455-3463.
  3. Chapman IM, Bach MA, Van Cauter E. Stimulation of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor I axis by daily oral administration of a GH secretagogue (MK-677) in healthy elderly subjects.. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 1996;81(12):4249-4257.
  4. Schleim K-D, Jacks T, Cunningham P. Increases in circulating insulin-like growth factor I levels by the oral growth hormone secretagogue MK-0677 in the beagle are dependent upon pituitary mediation.. Endocrinology 1999;140(4):1552-1558.
  5. Raun K, Sehested Hansen B, Langeland Johansen N. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue.. Eur J Endocrinol 1998;139(5):552-561.
    doi: 10.1530/eje.0.1390552google scholar: lookup
  6. Leaney A, Beck P, Biddle S. Analysis of supplements available to UK consumers purporting to contain selective androgen receptor modulators.. Drug Test Anal 2020;13(1):122-127.
    doi: 10.1002/dta.2908google scholar: lookup
  7. Sobolesky T, Prasolov I, Rodchenkov G. Urinary metabolism of ibutamoren, a small molecule growth hormone secretagogue.. In: 31st Cologne Workshop on Dope Analysis. Manfred-Donike Institute, Cologne, Germany; 2013.
  8. Min H, Han B, Sung C. LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous analysis of growth hormone-releasing peptides and secretagogues in human urine.. Mass Spectrom Lett 2016;7(3):55-63.
    doi: 10.5478/msl.2016.7.3.55google scholar: lookup
  9. Dmitrieva EV, Temerdashev AZ, Azaryan AA, Gashimova EM. Determination of Andarine (S-4), a selective androgen receptor modulator, and ibutamoren (MK-677), a nonpeptide growth hormone secretagogue, in urine by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass-spectrometric detection.. J Anal Chem 2018;73(7):674-678.
  10. Cutler C, Viljanto M, Taylor P, Habershon-Butcher J, Van Eenoo P. Equine metabolism of the growth hormone secretagogue MK-0677 in vitro and in urine and plasma following oral administration.. Drug Test Anal 2022;14(7):1273-1290.
    doi: 10.1002/dta.3252google scholar: lookup
  11. Henderson GL. Mechanisms of drug incorporation into hair.. Forensic Sci Int 1993;63(1-3):19-29.
  12. Wennig R. Potential problems with the interpretation of hair analysis results.. Forensic Sci Int 2000;107(1-3):5-12.
  13. Kintz P, Villain M, Crimele V. Hair analysis for drug detection.. Ther Drug Monit 28(3):442-446.
  14. Gray B, Viljanto M, Menzies E, Vanhaecke L. Detection of prohibited substances in equine hair by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass specotrometry - application to doping control samples.. Drug Test Anal 2018;10(7):1050-1060.
    doi: 10.1002/dta.2367google scholar: lookup
  15. Tsanaclis L, Wicks JFC. Differentiation between drug use and environmental contamination when testing for drugs in hair.. Forensic Sci Int 2008;176(1):19-22.
  16. Cairns T, Hill V, Schaffer M, Thistle W. Removing and identifying drug contamination in the analysis of human hair.. Forensic Sci Int 2004;145(2-3):97-108.
  17. Gheddar L, Raul J-S, Kintz P. Development and validation of SARMs and metabolic modulators screening in hair using UHPLC-MS/MS: application to a doping case and first identification of S23 in authentic human hair.. J Chromatogr B 2021;1187:123048.
  18. Dunnett M, Lees P. Trace element, toxin and drug elimination in hair with particular reference to the horse.. Res Vet Sci 2008;75:89-101.
  19. Dunnett M, Tracey S, Coates J, Lees P. Melanin content of equine hair and its effects on drug deposition.. In: Albert P, Morton T, Wade J, eds. Proceedings of the 15th international conference of racing analysts and veterinarians. Newmarket, UK: R&W Communications; 2004:495-501.
  20. Schlupp A, Anielski P, Thieme D, Müller RK, Meyer H, Ellendorff F. The β-agonist clenbuterol in mane and tail hair of horses.. Equine Vet J 2004;36(2):118-122.
    doi: 10.2746/0425164044868620google scholar: lookup
  21. Dunnett M, Tracey S, Warboys K, Lees P. Drug deposition in equine anagen and telogen hair.. In: Albert P, Morton T, Wade J, eds. Proceedings of the 15th international conference of racing analysts and veterinarians. Newmarket, UK: R&W Communications; 2004:502-508.
  22. Ishii H, Shibuya M, So Y-M. Long-term monitoring of IOX4 in horse hair and its longitudinal distribution with segmental analysis using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization Q Exactive high-resolution mass spectrometry for the purposes of doping control.. Drug Test Anal 2022;14(7):1244-1254.
    doi: 10.1002/dta.3247google scholar: lookup
  23. The Association of Official Racing Chemists. AORC Guidelines for the Minimum Criteria for Identification by Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.. 2016 Available online: http://www.aorc-online.org/documents/aorc-ms-criteria-modified-23-aug-16/aorc-ms-criteria-accepted-5-jan-2015-modified-23-aug-2016-final.pdf. Accessed 20 January 2021.

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.