Development and validation of a fecal testosterone biomarker in Mus musculus and Peromyscus maniculatus.
Authors
Billitti-JE; Lasley-BL; Wilson-BW
Source
Biol Reprod 1998 Nov; 59(5):1023-1028
Abstract
This is a report on the development and validation of an ELISA method to determine fecal testosterone levels, and on their evaluation as a biomarker for adverse effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on reproductive health using male rodents of the Peromyscus maniculatus and Mus musculus species as an animal model. The ELISA antibody had the highest specificity for testosterone (100%), followed by dihydrotestosterone (57.4%) and androstenediol (0.27%). Radiolabeled testosterone was injected i.p. into three mice. Fecal samples were collected, extracted, and analyzed by liquid scintillation counting. The ELISA was performed to characterize the excretion kinetics and metabolic fate of circulating testosterone. Solubilization of feces with 10% methanol overnight provided an extraction efficiency of 87% for all metabolites; an ethyl ether extraction was more selective for testosterone. The fecal excretion of the testosterone was a biphasic process with a majority of the radioactivity recovered in the first 24 hours. HPLC analysis revealed at least five testosterone metabolites in feces, with most metabolites being less polar than testosterone. This study forms the initial evaluation of what will become a field monitoring tool.
Keywords
Biomarkers; Animal-studies; Animals; Hormone-activity; Hormones; Endocrine-function; Endocrine-system; Endocrine-system-disorders; Endocrinology; Reproduction; Reproductive-effects; Reproductive-hazards; Reproductive-system; Reproductive-system-disorders; Kinetic-energy; Kinetics; Metabolic-disorders; Metabolic-rate; Metabolic-study; Metabolism
Contact
Barry W. Wilson, Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Davis, Davis, California 95616
Document Type
Journal Article
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U07-CCU-906162
Source Name
Biology of Reproduction
Performing Organization
University of California - Davis
