Steroid hormones such as glucocorticoids and their metabolites are closely related to mental diseases and neuroendocrine diseases. Quantitative analysis of these substances will help in understanding their roles in related research fields. In this study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method was developed to detect the concentration of corticosterone (CORT) and its metabolites, progesterone (PROG) and testosterone in rat plasma and prefrontal cortex (PFC), and was applied to investigate the changes in hormones in rats with depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The method was shown to be linear in the quantitation range for all analytes. Intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision were between 80% and 120%. Furthermore, we found that the level of CORT in plasma and PFC increased, whereas that of 11-dehydrocorticosterone (11-DHCORT) as well as the ratio of 11-DHCORT and CORT declined in rats with CUMS-induced depression. The trends of these changes in central PFC and peripheral plasma were consistent. In conclusion, this study successfully established an UPLC–MS/MS method for simultaneous measurement of CORT and its metabolites, PROG and testosterone in rat plasma and PFC, and applied it to rats with depression. The method could be further applied to the research of depression and diseases related to these steroid hormones.

中文翻译：

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通过超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法对慢性不可预测的轻度应激性抑郁大鼠血浆和前额叶皮层样品中六种类固醇激素进行定量

糖皮质激素等类固醇激素及其代谢物与精神疾病和神经内分泌疾病密切相关。对这些物质的定量分析将有助于了解它们在相关研究领域中的作用。本研究开发了一种超高效液相色谱-串联质谱 (UPLC-MS/MS) 方法来检测大鼠血浆和前额叶皮质中皮质酮 (CORT) 及其代谢物、孕酮 (PROG) 和睾酮的浓度。 PFC), 并应用于研究慢性不可预知轻度应激 (CUMS) 诱导的抑郁大鼠激素变化。该方法被证明在所有分析物的定量范围内都是线性的。日内和日间准确度和精确度在 80% 和 120% 之间。此外，我们发现在 CUMS 诱导的抑郁症大鼠中，血浆和 PFC 中的 CORT 水平增加，而 11-脱氢皮质酮 (11-DHCORT) 以及 11-DHCORT 和 CORT 的比率下降。中央 PFC 和外周血浆的这些变化趋势是一致的。总之，本研究成功建立了同时测定大鼠血浆和 PFC 中 CORT 及其代谢物、PROG 和睾酮的 UPLC-MS/MS 方法，并将其应用于抑郁症大鼠。该方法可进一步应用于抑郁症和这些类固醇激素相关疾病的研究。本研究成功建立了同时测定大鼠血浆和PFC中CORT及其代谢物、PROG和睾酮的UPLC-MS/MS方法，并将其应用于抑郁症大鼠。该方法可进一步应用于抑郁症和这些类固醇激素相关疾病的研究。本研究成功建立了同时测定大鼠血浆和PFC中CORT及其代谢物、PROG和睾酮的UPLC-MS/MS方法，并将其应用于抑郁症大鼠。该方法可进一步应用于抑郁症和这些类固醇激素相关疾病的研究。