Journal Highlight: GC/MS based hair steroid profiling may reveal pathogenesis in hair follicles of the scalp

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry based hair steroid profiling may reveal pathogenesis in hair follicles of the scalp

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2011, 25, 1184-1192
Hyun-Jin Jung, Sun Ju Kim, Won-Yong Lee, Bong Chul Chung, Man Ho Choi

Abstract: A method of steroid profiling, including androgens, progestins, corticoids and sterols, was developed to evaluate the concentrations of steroids as well as the activities of the enzymes responsible for steroidogenesis in hair by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The extraction efficiencies of steroids from the hair matrix were improved by ultrasonication for 1 h at 50°C. The overall recoveries ranged from 71 to 132%, with a limit of quantification for all analytes ranging from 1 to 50 ng/g. The devised method was used to identify the metabolic changes for both male-pattern baldness (MPB) and the drug efficiency of dutasteride, which inhibits 5alpha-reductase. Increased dihydrotestosterone levels and the dihydrotestosterone/testosterone (DHT/T) ratio, which is responsible for the 5alpha-reductase activity, were observed in the MPB patients. A dutasteride treatment resulted in decreases in the DHT and 5alpha-androstanedione concentrations and DHT/T ratio in the hair samples. Hair steroid profiling reflects the sebaceous status in the scalp and may be useful for monitoring the metabolic responses to both the disease and drug actions.

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