Identification and quantitation of steroid hormones in marine gastropods by GC/MS

Abstract

In order to clarify the effect of the contamination of organotin compounds in a marine environment on the imposex of gastropods, the speciation and levels of steroid hormones of the organisms were investigated by means of the GC/MS method. Testosterone and 17β-estradiol were first identified and quantitated in the testes and ovaries of Thais clavigera, respectively. In addition, androsterone, estrone and ethynylestradiol were also found in the respective tissues of Babylonia japonica. The extraction and refining procedures were constructed, and the passage of C8-SPE was quite effective for clean-up of the steroid fractions. The recovery of testosterone and 17β-estradiol through the whole procedure were examined by adding a surrogate compound, 17β-estradiol-d3. Good recoveries of between 83% and 96% were obtained. Based on these, the concentrations of testosterone in the testes and 17β-estradiol in the ovaries of both marine gastropods were well determined. The testes of Babylonia japonica were stained both histologically and immunohistochemically to observe the presence of inter- stitial cells, testosterone producing cells known in mammals. © 2001 The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.