The influence of 3α-androstanediol (3α-diol) on twitch and electroencephalogram (EEG) of the epileptic rats induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) has been observed in this experiment in order to comprehensively explore the role of 3α-diol on epileptic attack from the aspects of behavior and EEG. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were evenly and randomly divided into 4 groups: the normal and supplied with oil epileptic (N+oil+PTZ) group, the normal and supplied with 3α-diol epileptic (N+3α-diol+PTZ) group, the gonadectomized and supplied with oil epileptic (GDX+oil+PTZ) group and the gonadectomized and supplied with 3α-diol epileptic (GDX+3α-diol+PTZ) group. The changes of the behavior and EEG of epileptic rats in every group were recorded and analyzed. The results of behavior observation showed that the latency to clonic seizure and tonic-clonic seizure was shortened and the number of tonic-clonic seizure was increased significantly in the GDX+oil+PTZ group in comparison with N+oil+PTZ group (P < 0.05); comparing GDX+3α-diol+PTZ group with GDX+oil+PTZ group, or N+3α-diol+PTZ group with N+oil+PTZ group, we found that the latency to clonic seizure and tonic-clonic seizure became prolonged significantly, and the number of clonic seizure and tonic-clonic seizure was decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The results of EEG showed that the latency to epileptic waves was cut and the number of epileptic waves was augmented significantly in the GDX+oil+PTZ group in comparison with N+oil+PTZ group (P < 0.05); comparing GDX+3α-diol+PTZ group with GDX+oil+PTZ group, or N+3α-diol+PTZ group with N+oil+PTZ group, we found that the latency to epileptic waves became lengthened significantly, the number of epileptic waves was reduced significantly and the percentage of change of TP (total power of spectrum) was lessened significantly (P < 0.05). These results indicate that 3α-diol has an antiepileptic activity in the gonadectomized and normal epileptic rats.
Androstane-3,17-diol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; pharmacology ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Pentylenetetrazole ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; drug therapy

AIMTo establish a method to determine the isotope ratios of 13C to 12C of dehydroepiandrosterone and its metabolites in urine, for detecting the source of dehydroepiandrosterone or its metabolites.

METHODSPreliminary separation of endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids could be achieved using solid phase extraction, enzymolysis and thin layer chromatography. The source of dehydroepiandrosterone and other endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids could be detected by their delta values with gas chromat ography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

RESULTSThe 5 values of some metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone reduced after the administration of dehydroepiandrosterone preparation. In these cases the data indicated that exogenous anabolic androgenic steroids were administrated.

CONCLUSIONThe source of dehydroepiandrosterone or its metabolites in urine could be detected by measuring their delta values with this method.

Adult ; Androstane-3,17-diol ; urine ; Androsterone ; urine ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; methods ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; metabolism ; Doping in Sports ; Etiocholanolone ; urine ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnanetriol ; urine ; Substance Abuse Detection ; methods