Analyze Diet
Drug testing and analysis2020; 12(2); 247-260; doi: 10.1002/dta.2719

Investigation of the metabolism of the selective androgen receptor modulator LGD-4033 in equine urine, plasma and hair following oral administration.

Abstract: LGD-4033 is one of a number of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) that are being developed by the pharmaceutical industry to provide the therapeutic benefits of anabolic androgenic steroids, without the less desirable side effects. Though not available therapeutically, SARMs are available for purchase online as supplement products. The potential for performance enhancing effects associated with these products makes them a significant concern with regards to doping control in sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate the metabolism of LGD-4033 in the horse following oral administration, in order to identify the most appropriate analytical targets for doping control laboratories. LGD-4033 was orally administered to two Thoroughbred horses and urine, plasma and hair samples were collected and analysed for parent drug and metabolites. LC-HRMS was used for metabolite identification in urine and plasma. Eight metabolites were detected in urine, five of which were excreted only as phase II conjugates, with the longest detection time being observed for di- and tri-hydroxylated metabolites. The parent compound could only be detected in urine in the conjugated fraction. Seven metabolites were detected in plasma along with the parent compound where mono-hydroxylated metabolites provided the longest duration of detection. Preliminary investigations with hair samples using LC-MS/MS analysis indicated the presence of trace amounts of the parent compound and one of the mono-hydroxylated metabolites. In vitro incubation of LGD-4033 with equine liver microsomes was also performed for comparison, yielding 11 phase I metabolites. All of the metabolites observed in vivo were also observed in vitro.
Publication Date: 2020-01-05 PubMed ID: 31655494DOI: 10.1002/dta.2719Google 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.

This study investigates the metabolism of the drug LGD-4033 in horses to understand how the drug is processed in the body, with the intent of better informing doping control measures. It found that certain metabolites could be detected in urine, blood and hair samples from the horses for extended periods of time after administration.

Introduction and Aim

The researchers are focusing on a drug called LGD-4033, which is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM). SARMs are performance enhancing drugs that are used in sports but administered without medical supervision could lead to damaging side-effects. This study aims to generate data on the metabolism of LGD-4033 in horses that would assist doping control laboratories in their anti-doping efforts.

Methodology

  • The researchers orally administered LGD-4033 to two Thoroughbred horses and collected samples of urine, plasma (blood without cells), and hair for analysis.
  • A method called LC-HRMS (liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry) was utilized to identify the metabolites or byproducts formed when LGD-4033 is metabolized in the body. Metabolites can be indicative of the presence of a drug.
  • In addition to the live animals, the researchers also incubated LGD-4033 in vitro with equine liver microsomes. This is often done to replicate and study the metabolism process in a lab setting.

Findings

  • The analysis showed the presence of eight metabolites in urine, five of which were only found as phase II conjugates (which means they are the products of the second phase of drug metabolism).
  • The parent compound, LGD-4033, could only be detected in urine and it was present in the form of a “conjugate”, indicating it has undergone a chemical transformation in the body.
  • Plasma analysis revealed seven metabolites including the parent compound, with mono-hydroxylated metabolites providing the longest detection time.
  • Analysis of hair samples also indicated minute quantities of the parent compound and one mono-hydroxylated metabolite.
  • The in vitro study produced 11 phase I metabolites (an indication that it’s from the first phase of drug metabolism), all of which were also observed in the live animals.

Conclusion

The comprehensive analysis of the metabolism of LGD-4033 in horses may provide useful indicators for detection of unauthorized use of LGD-4033 in equine sports. It enables the tracking of its presence in equine urine, plasma, and hair even long after it has been administered, providing doping control labs with crucial insights for anti-doping measures.

Cite This Article

APA
Cutler C, Viljanto M, Hincks P, Habershon-Butcher J, Muir T, Biddle S. (2020). Investigation of the metabolism of the selective androgen receptor modulator LGD-4033 in equine urine, plasma and hair following oral administration. Drug Test Anal, 12(2), 247-260. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.2719

Publication

ISSN: 1942-7611
NlmUniqueID: 101483449
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 2
Pages: 247-260

Researcher Affiliations

Cutler, Charlotte
  • LGC, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Viljanto, Marjaana
  • LGC, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Hincks, Pamela
  • LGC, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Habershon-Butcher, Jocelyn
  • British Horseracing Authority, London, UK.
Muir, Tessa
  • British Horseracing Authority, London, UK.
Biddle, Simon
  • LGC, Fordham, Cambridgeshire, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animal Fur / chemistry
  • Animal Fur / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Doping in Sports
  • Horses / blood
  • Horses / metabolism
  • Horses / urine
  • Nitriles / administration & dosage
  • Nitriles / blood
  • Nitriles / metabolism
  • Nitriles / urine
  • Performance-Enhancing Substances / administration & dosage
  • Performance-Enhancing Substances / blood
  • Performance-Enhancing Substances / metabolism
  • Performance-Enhancing Substances / urine
  • Pyrrolidines / administration & dosage
  • Pyrrolidines / blood
  • Pyrrolidines / metabolism
  • Pyrrolidines / urine
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Substance Abuse Detection / methods
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

References

This article includes 30 references
  1. Liora J. Characterization of the equine metabolites of LGD-4033 in urine using UHPLC-MS (/MS) for doping control purposes.. .
  2. Bhasin S, Calof OM, Storer TW. Drug insight: testosterone and selective androgen receptor modulators as anabolic therapies for chronic illness and aging.. Nat Clin Pract Endocrinol Metab 2006;2(3):146-159.
  3. Bhasin S, Jusuja R. Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) as function promoting therapies.. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2009;12(3):232-240.
  4. World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2008 Prohibited List International Standard.. 2007.
  5. IFHA. International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering.. 2016.
  6. Clinicaltrials.gov. Acute hip fracture study in patients 65 years or greater.. 2017.
  7. Basaria S, Collins L, Dillon EL. The safety, pharmacokinetics, and effects of LGD-4033, a novel nonsteroidal oral, selective androgen receptor modulator, in healthy young men.. J Gerontol a Biol Sci Med Sci 2013;68(1):87-95.
  8. Cox HD, Eichner D. Detection of LGD-4033 and its metabolites in athlete urine samples.. Drug Test Anal 2017;9(1):127-134.
  9. Geldof L, Pozo OJ, Lootens L, Morthier W, Van Eenoo P, Deventer K. In vitro metabolism study of a black market product containing SARM LGD-4033.. Drug Test Anal 2017;2017(9):168-178.
  10. Thevis M, Lagojda A, Kuehne D. Characterization of non-approved selective androgen receptor modulator drug candidate sold via the internet and identification of in vitro generated phase-I metabolites for human sports drug testing.. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2015;29(11):991-999.
  11. Lagojda A, Kuehne D, Krug O. Identification of selected in vitro-generated phase I metabolites of the steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator MK-0773 for doping control purposes.. Eur J Mass Spectrom 2016;22(2):49-59.
  12. Sobolevsky T, Dikunets M, Rodchenkov G. In vitro and in vivo metabolism of RAD140, a novel non-steroidal SARM.. 31st Cologne workshop on doping analysis.
  13. Thevis M, Thomas A, Piper T, Krug O, Delahaut P, Schänzer W. Liquid chromatography-high resolution/high accuracy (tandem) mass spectrometry based identification of in vivo generated metabolites of the selective androgen receptor modulator ACP-105 for doping control purposes.. Eur J Mass Spectrom 2014;20(1):73-83.
  14. Thevis M, Schänzer W. Detection of SARMs in doping control analysis.. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018;464:34-45.
  15. Hansson A, Knych H, Stanley S, Thevis M, Bondesson U, Hedeland M. Characterization of equine urinary metabolites of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) S1, S4 and S22 for doping control purposes.. Drug Test Anal 2015;7(8):673-683.
  16. Scarth JP, Spencer HA, Timbers SE, Hudson SC, Hillyer LL. The use of in vitro technologies coupled with high resolution accurate mass LC-MS for studying drug metabolism in equine drug surveillance.. Drug Test Anal 2010;2(1):1-10.
  17. Thevis M, Gerace E, Thomas A. Characterization of in vitro generated metabolites of the selective androgen receptor modulators S-22 and S-23 and in vivo comparison to post-administration canine urine specimens.. Drug Test Anal 2010;2(11-12):589-598.
  18. Castro-Perez J, Plumb R, Granger JH, Beattie I, Joncour C, Wright A. Increasing throughput and information content for in vitro drug metabolism experiments using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer.. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2007;19(6):843-848.
  19. Tiller PR, Yu S, Castro-Perez J, Fillgrove KL, Baillie TA. High-throughput, accurate mass liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry on a quadrupole time-of-flight system as a ‘first-line’ approach for metabolite identification studies.. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2008;22(7):1053-1061.
  20. Hansson A, Knych H, Stanley S. Equine in vivo-derived metabolites of the SARM LGD-4033 and comparison with human and fungal metabolites.. J Chromatogr B 2018;1074-1075:91-98.
  21. Naafs MAB. Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs): a mini-review.. Open Acc J Repro & Sexual Disord 2018;1(1):20-26.
  22. Broome TA, Brown MP, Gronwall RR, Casey MF, Meritt KA. Pharmacokinetics and plasma concentrations of acetylsalicylic acid after intravenous, rectal, and intragastric administration to horses.. The Canadian Journal of Veterinary Resrearch 2003;67:297-302.
  23. Soma LR, Uboh CE, Liu Y. Pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone following intra-articular, intravenous, intramuscular, and oral administration in horses and its effects on endogenous hydrocortisone.. J Vet Pharmacol Therap 2012;36:181-191.
  24. Gray B. Analysis of andarine and metabolites in equine serum and urine following oral administration.. LGC - Internal Project Report 2016.
  25. Gray B, Viljanto M, Menzies E, Vanhaecke L. Detection of prohibited substances in equine hair by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry - application to doping control samples.. Drug Test Anal 2018;10(7):1050-1060.
  26. Wong JKY, Choi TLS, Kwok KY, Lei ENY, Wan TSM. Doping control analysis of 121 prohibited substances in equine hair by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2018;158:189-203.
  27. Kintz P, Ameline A, Gheddar L, Raul JS. LGD-4033, S-4 and MK-2866 - testing for SAMRs in hair: about 2 doping cases.. Toxicologie Analytique et Clinique 2019;31(1):56-63.
  28. Fragakaki AG, Sakellariou P, Kiousi P. Human in vivo metabolism study of LGD-4033.. Drug Test Anal 2018;10(11-12):1635-1645.
  29. Zenser TV, Lakshmi VM, Davis BB. Human and Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase hydrolysis of glucuronide conjugates of benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl, and their hydroxy metabolites.. Drug Metab Dispos 1999;27(9):1064-1067.
  30. Bardal SK, Waechter JE, Martin SM. Pharmacokinetics.. .

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Breuer J, Thomas A, Delahaut P, Schänzer W, Geyer H, Thevis M. Investigations into the concentration and metabolite profiles of stanozolol and LGD-4033 in blood plasma and seminal fluid using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry.. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023 Feb;415(4):669-681.
    doi: 10.1007/s00216-022-04456-ypubmed: 36441233google scholar: lookup
  2. Wagener F, Guddat S, Görgens C, Angelis YS, Petrou M, Lagojda A, Kühne D, Thevis M. Investigations into the elimination profiles and metabolite ratios of micro-dosed selective androgen receptor modulator LGD-4033 for doping control purposes.. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022 Jan;414(2):1151-1162.
    doi: 10.1007/s00216-021-03740-7pubmed: 34734312google scholar: lookup