Metabolism of some anabolic agents: toxicological and analytical aspects.

The metabolism of the animal growth promotants diethylstilbestrol, zeranol and 17 beta-trenbolone and of a few anabolizing steroids used in humans is briefly reviewed. The possible role of reactive metabolic intermediates in the toxicity of some anabolic agents is discussed. Analytical implications of the metabolism of anabolizing agents are described and examples of the analysis of metabolites by means of recently developed techniques are given. It is proposed to utilize the covalent binding of reactive metabolites of anabolic compounds to blood proteins such as haemoglobin and serum albumin for retrospective doping analysis.