A New LC-MS/MS Method for Simultaneous and Quantitative Detection of Bisphenol-A and Steroids in Target Tissues: A Power Tool to Characterize the Interference of Bisphenol-A Exposure on Steroid Levels.

Sonia Errico,Martina Moggio,Gilda Cobellis,Nadia Diano,Teresa Chioccarelli

doi:10.3390/molecules25010048

Sonia Errico, Martina Moggio + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25010048

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Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, may affect in situ steroidogenesis and alter steroids levels. The present work proposes a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method to simultaneously quantify BPA, 17β-Estradiol and testosterone in two target tissues: testis and visceral fat mass. Analytes were isolated and lipophilic impurities removed by two serial steps: liquid-liquid and solid phase extraction. All compounds were separated in a single gradient run by Kinetex F5 column and detected via multiple reaction monitoring using a triple quadrupole with a TurboIon electrospray source in both negative and positive modes. The method is selective and very sensitive. In the investigated concentration range, the linearity of the detector response is verified in both tissues. The use of specific SPE cartridges for affinity chromatography purification allows obtaining high percentages of process efficiency (68.0–83.3% for testicular tissue; 63.7–70.7% for visceral fat mass). Good repeatability and reproducibility was observed. The validated method can be efficiently applied for direct biological monitoring in testis and visceral fat mass from mice exposed to BPA. The quantification of compounds in a single assay could be achieved without a loss of sensitivity.

Highlights

Bisphenol A (BPA), 17β-Estradiol, and testosterone are three chemicals with different origins and functions but linked by their similar structure
It is well known that BPA acts competitively toward endogenous hormones considering its capacity to bind several receptors [7,8,9,10], but it can alter in situ steroidogenesis [11,12] and interfere with the expression and activity of steroidogenic enzymes [13,14,15]
The results demonstrated that the analytical procedure developed in this study is an effective and reliable method to extract and quantize BPA and steroids in complex matrices, such as testis and visceral fat (vFAT) mass

Summary

Introduction

Bisphenol A (BPA), 17β-Estradiol, and testosterone are three chemicals with different origins and functions but linked by their similar structure. 17β-Estradiol (E2) and testosterone (TT) are steroid hormones which control the development and maintenance of secondary sex characteristics and reproductive functions [2]. They play a critical role in many physiological processes, such as bone and lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, growth, and cardiovascular function [3,4,5,6].

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