Product-to-parent reversion of trenbolone: unrecognized risks for endocrine disruption

Science. 2013 Oct 18;342(6156):347-51. doi: 10.1126/science.1243192. Epub 2013 Sep 26.

Abstract

Trenbolone acetate (TBA) is a high-value steroidal growth promoter often administered to beef cattle, whose metabolites are potent endocrine-disrupting compounds. We performed laboratory and field phototransformation experiments to assess the fate of TBA metabolites and their photoproducts. Unexpectedly, we observed that the rapid photohydration of TBA metabolites is reversible under conditions representative of those in surface waters (pH 7, 25°C). This product-to-parent reversion mechanism results in diurnal cycling and substantial regeneration of TBA metabolites at rates that are strongly temperature- and pH-dependent. Photoproducts can also react to produce structural analogs of TBA metabolites. These reactions also occur in structurally similar steroids, including human pharmaceuticals, which suggests that predictive fate models and regulatory risk assessment paradigms must account for transformation products of high-risk environmental contaminants such as endocrine-disrupting steroids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anabolic Agents / adverse effects
  • Anabolic Agents / chemistry*
  • Anabolic Agents / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Darkness
  • Desiccation
  • Endocrine Disruptors / adverse effects
  • Endocrine Disruptors / chemistry*
  • Endocrine Disruptors / metabolism*
  • Environmental Health
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Photolysis*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Temperature
  • Trenbolone Acetate / adverse effects
  • Trenbolone Acetate / chemistry*
  • Trenbolone Acetate / metabolism
  • Water / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants / adverse effects
  • Water Pollutants / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants / metabolism

Substances

  • Anabolic Agents
  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Water Pollutants
  • Water
  • Trenbolone Acetate