Changes in the hepatic and renal structure and function after a growth promoter boldenone injection in rabbits (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Experimental Pathology, 2012
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of the male testosterone hormone that have been modified to improve their anabolic rather than androgenic activity (Shahidi 2001). The anabolic effects of AAS promote protein synthesis, muscle growth and erythropoiesis (Mottram & George 2000). Hence, AAS are used to enhance strength and durability of canine, equine and human athletes (Teale & Houghton 1991; Schä nzer & Donike 1992; Schä nzer 1996). Boldenone (BOL) is an anabolic steroid that differs from testosterone only by one double bond at the 1-position (Stolker et al. 2007) (Figure 1). It is used mainly as undecylenate ester by bodybuilders and is administered illegally to racing horses. However, it is used as a growth promotor on farms improving the growth and feed conversion of cattle; it may be abused to achieve more efficient meat production (Gryglik et al. 2010). In developing countries with rapid growth of population, like Egypt, the demand for edible protein exceeds the supply and the gap is expanded. Meat from animals, including from rabbits, provides a valuable and palatable source of protein. We found BOL to be used heavily in Egypt, not only in the field of animal production, but also by athletes and bodybuilders. BOL increases muscle size owing to promotion of positive nitrogen balance by stimulating protein production and reducing protein destruction, as well as causing retention of body water, nitrogen, sodium, potassium and calcium ions (Forbes 1985; Mooradian et al. 1987). Like other androgenic steroids, BOL is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in class 2A (growth promotors-steroids), as a probable human carcinogen (e.g. prostate and liver tumours), with a carcinogenicity index higher than that of other androgens, such as nandrolone, stanozolol and testosterone and is thus a banned substance (IARC Monograph 1987; De Brabander et al. 2004). Despite these restrictions, AAS are easily obtained. The abuse of AAS can lead to serious and irreversible organ damage (Maravelias et al. 2005). Among the most common adverse effects of AAS that have been described are INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY
Evaluation of boldenone as a growth promoter in broilers: safety and meat quality aspects
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 2016
The object of this study was to evaluate the safety and meat quality criteria in broilers following intramuscular injection of boldenone. Twenty-four broiler chicks, divided into two groups, were used in the present study. Boldenone was injected intramuscularly at a singledose level of 5 mg/kg body weight into 12 broiler chicks at 2 weeks old; the other 12 chicks were injected with sesame oil and kept as controls. Blood samples were collected from the wing and metatarsal veins after 1, 2, and 3 weeks through the experimental course for hematological and clinic-chemical safety parameters. On the last day, chicks were humanely sacrificed and livers and kidneys were removed for histopathological examination. Breast muscles were also removed to assess meat-quality parameters. Boldenone significantly (p < 0.05) increased total erythrocytic count and hemoglobin and hematocrit values, while mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration indices decreased. Leukogram showed leukopenia, lymphopenia, and granulocytosis (p < 0.05) as compared to control. Hepatorenal biomarkers, including alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the corresponding control values. Additionally, boldenone significantly (p < 0.05) increased metabolic markers, including total protein, globulins, cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and glucose, with parallel decreases in albumin and albumin/ globulin ratio. Degenerative changes were recorded in liver and kidney tissues from chicks treated with boldenone. Muscle samples exhibited raised pH values and higher microbial counts as compared to the corresponding control. These data may discourage the use of boldenone as a growth promoter in broilers due to safety and meat quality reasons.
Analytica Chimica Acta, 2007
17-Boldenone (17-BOLD) and Boldione (ADD) are steroid compounds with androgenic activity, likely to be used as growth promoters in cattle. Different studies still on-going aiming to distinguish between "natural" occurrence or illegal BOLD source had already indicated that their metabolism in cattle is of relevant significance. To identify metabolites as in vivo markers to support the thesis of exogenous administration, a further approach to the in vitro biotransformation of 17-BOLD and ADD was performed using different subcellular fractions obtained from both liver and kidney of untreated cattle. Polar and non-polar metabolites obtained from incubated parent compounds were formerly separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) elution and successively identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) detection.
Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 2007
Boldenone and its precursor Boldione are illegally used for anabolic purposes in humans, horses and cattle. To develop more effective policies and programs to maximize food security, Italian Public Health Services investigate all indicators capable of assisting the recognition of treated animals, and prioritize research and the formulation of action strategies for the promotion of healthy eating. Thus, an experimental administration of boldenone and boldione at anabolic dosages in veal calves was carried out to evaluate the changes in target organs by qualitative and semi-quantitative morphological analysis. The lesions resembled the effects already observed after the administration of androgen hormones to cattle. Main findings were represented by prostate hypersecretion, increased rate of apoptotic cells and decreased rate of Ki67 positive cells in the germ cell line of treated animals, particularly in boldione group and finally some new features like hypertrophy of the prostate urothelial cells.
Boldenone-induced apoptotic, structural, and functional alterations in the liver of rabbits
World Rabbit Science, 2015
Boldenone undecylenate (BOL) is an anabolic androgenic steroid used in livestock to improve growth and food conversion. This study investigated the actions of BOL on structure and functions of rabbit liver as well as the effects of its withdrawal. Eighteen mature male New Zealand rabbits were divided into 2 groups: Control group (n=6) were injected with 0.25 mL corn oil/kg body weight (BW), while BOL group (n=12) received 3 intramuscular injections, 2 wk apart, of BOL (4.5 mg/kg BW). Animals were scarified 1 d after last injection except for 6 rabbits from BOL group that served as the BOL-withdrawal group (4 wk after the 3 rd injection). Intramuscular injection of BOL increased (P<0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) level, but markedly lowered activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration compared to both control and BOL-withdrawal groups. Treatment with BOL significantly (P<0.05) increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared to the control group. BOL injection caused different histopathological alterations and apoptosis in liver, but these changes were less evident in the BOL-withdrawal group. Expression of p53 and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) genes was up regulated in BOL compared to control group, while the expressions of p53 and TNF-α were down regulated in BOL-withdrawal group in comparison with BOL group. In conclusion, BOL injection induced structural and functional changes in the liver of rabbits, increasing oxidative stress and mediators of apoptosis such as ROS, p53 and TNF-α. All these parameters returned to near the control values after withdrawal.
Presence and metabolism of the anabolic steroid boldenone in various animal species: a review
Food Additives and Contaminants, 2004
The review summarizes current knowledge on the possible illegal use of the anabolic steroid boldenone. The presence of boldenone and metabolites in different animal species and the possibility of the occurrence of endogenous boldenone and metabolites is assessed, as are the methods of analysis used for detection. Different laboratories in the European Union have examined the occurrence of boldenone and its metabolites. The results were discussed at different meetings of a European Commission DG-SANCO Working Party and summarized in an expert report. The situation of the different laboratories at this time is also covered herein. The overall conclusion of the Working Party was that there was a necessity for further research to distinguish between naturally occurring and illegally used boldenone forms. The confirmation of the presence of boldenone metabolites (free and conjugated forms) in certain matrices of animals is proposed as a marker for the illegal treatment with boldenone.
Nutrition Research, 1990
The effect of Primobolan (methenolone enanthate; 10 mg kg" thrice-weekly) on total body nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and bodyweight , muscle protein synthesis and food conversion efficiency was measured in Wistar rats during the period from weanling to maturity (22 to 64 days of age). Treated male rats exhibited a lower rate of weight gain, increased kidney weight and decreased testicular weight when compared with controls. No differences in total nitrogen, potassium or phosphorus were observed. Treated female rats had significantly increased bodyweight , total body nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compared with female controls although, when expressed as a percentage of body weight, phosphorus content was higher in controls. Treated female rats had increased food conversion efficiency expressed relative to total body weight gain or total body nitrogen gain. Rates of synthesis of mixed skeletal muscle protein, measured at the conclusion of the study, indicated that treated females had a significantly increased rate of synthesis when compared to female controls. There was no significant difference between treated male rats and control animals.
Effect of Boldenone Undecylenate on Haematological and Biochemical Parameters in Veal Calves
2014
Hormones were naturally produced by humans and animals resulted in morphological, physiological and biochemical changes. Boldenone Undecylenate (BOL) is an anabolic steroid for veterinary usage. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of BOL administration on the body performance, haematological and biochemical parameters in veal calves. Twenty one apparent healthy male veal calves were divided into three groups. The first group kept as normal control. The second and third groups were administered with Boldenone Undecylenate, by 200 mg and 400 mg respectively. Results showed a significant increase in daily gain response and final body weight accompanied with hyperproteinemia and Hyperglobulinemia after administration of BOL particularly in the third group. Haematological analysis on BOL administered groups, revealed a significant increase in RBCs, Hb and PCV while a decrease in total leucocytic count with lymphopenia. On the other side biochemical studies showed a rise in...
Pour on application of growth promoters in veal calves: analytical and histological results
Analyst, 1998
To investigate the possibilities for screening and confirmation methods when the 'pour on' method of application is used for administration of growth promoters, an animal experiment was performed using a cocktail of a combination of growth promoters derived from (illegal) practice. Two cocktails were used, cocktail A consisting of stanozolol and estradiol benzoate and cocktail B consisting of stanozolol, estradiol benzoate and beclomethasone dipropionate. The intended dose per animal was 110 mg stanozolol, 25 mg estradiol and 10 mg beclomethasone. The experiment was performed on 20 male veal calves, 16 treated and 4 vehicle treated controls and 3 female veal calves, 2 treated and 1 vehicle treated control. Half of the animals were shaven prior to the application of the drugs. The cocktails were administered using two types of vehicles: vehicle A; Miglyol 840 with butylated hydroxytoluene and vehicle B; di(ethyleneglycol) monobutylether. During a 28 day treatment period, one group of animals was treated once a week, another group of animals was treated once every two weeks and slaughtered. Preliminary results showed that pour on application of anabolic steroids markedly increased growth performance of veal calves, the animals treated with cocktail A performed better than the animals treated with cocktail B. Macroscopically, the thymus was reduced in weight and size in the B animals. The bulbo-urethral glands were enlarged in all treated animals. Histologically all treated animals showed squamous metaplasia in the prostate, bulbo-urethral gland and Bartholins glands. Moreover, a changed secretion pattern was observed in both the prostate and the bulbo-urethral gland. Severe cortical atrophy was observed in the thymus and to a lesser extent the adrenals of the beclomethasone treated animals. The recently discovered 16b-hydroxy-metabolite of stanozolol was detected in urine, in relatively high concentrations. This is the first report of the excretion of this metabolite in urine after pour on administration showing the prospect for detection of dermal treatment. Estradiol levels were remarkably elevated (up to 200 mg l 21 ) exceeding the endogenous levels ( < 1 mg l 21 ).