Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric identification of 16alpha-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone in human seminal...

16alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone was for the first time detected in human seminal plasma by using a combination of extraction, solvent partition, HPLC separation and final quantification by GC-MS as pentafluorobenzyloxime trimethylsilyl ether derivative in SIM mode. Three effective mass fragments m/z 266, 356 and 446 were followed. The concentration of 16alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone amounted in average 1.06 nmol/l, being lower but close to- the product of concurrent DHEA metabolism, 7-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone isomers, found recently in seminal plasma.