INFLUENCE OF SAMPLING ON STEROID-HORMONE PATTERNS OF BEEF FROM BULLS AND STEERS

Three different muscles (Longissimus dorsi, Semitendinosus, Extensor c arpi ulnaris) of bulls and steers, which represent different parts of the carcass and which have differing properties (function, proportions of fat and connective tissue), were analysed with GC-MS for their con tents of testosterone, cortisol, cortisone, pregnenolone, dehydroepian drosterone, progesterone, hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, dihydr otestosterone, epitestosterone and androsterone. No difference in the hormone patterns could be detected between the three muscles. However, the enrichment of beef samples with inter- and intramuscular fat decr eased the levels of the polar corticosteroids, whereas the levels of l ipophilic steroids were increased. The patterns of the lipophilic sex steroids, their precursors and metabolites, which can be used to deter mine the sexual origin of beef and which might prove useful in evaluat ing residues of administered steroid hormones, seem to be less affecte d by the beef sample's fat content, however. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved