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Stella R, Bovo D, Mastrorilli E, Manuali E, Pezzolato M, Bozzetta E, Lega F, Angeletti R, Biancotto G. A novel tool to screen for treatments with clenbuterol in bovine: Identification of two hepatic markers by metabolomics investigation. Food Chem 2021; 353:129366. [PMID: 33838430 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Surveillance of illegal use of growth promoters such as β2-agonists in food producing animals rely on the detection of drug residues by LC-MS/MS. Screening strategies focusing on indirect physiological responses following administration of active compounds are promising approaches to strengthen existing targeted methods and ensure food safety. A metabolomics analysis based on LC-HRMS was carried out on liver extracts from bulls experimentally treated with clenbuterol combined with dexamethasone (n = 8) to mimic a potential anabolic practice, and control animals (n = 8). Nicotinic acid and 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine were identified as biomarkers of treatment. Ratio values of such markers to others of the same metabolic pathways (nicotinamide or methionine) were used to develop a classification model to assign animals as treated with clenbuterol or non-treated. The classification model was tested on an external validation set comprising 74 animals either treated with different anabolic compounds (β2-agonists, sexual steroids, corticosteroid), or non-treated, showing 100% sensitivity and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Stella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Department of Chemistry, Legnaro (PD), Italy.
| | - Davide Bovo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Department of Chemistry, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Eleonora Mastrorilli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Department of Food Safety, Legnaro (PD), Italy; European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elisabetta Manuali
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati", Perugia, Italy
| | - Marzia Pezzolato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Elena Bozzetta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Francesca Lega
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Department of Chemistry, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Roberto Angeletti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Department of Chemistry, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Giancarlo Biancotto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Department of Chemistry, Legnaro (PD), Italy
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Glucocorticoid receptor expression on circulating leukocytes differs between healthy male and female adults. J Clin Transl Sci 2017. [PMID: 28649452 PMCID: PMC5471823 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2016.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a key receptor involved in inflammatory responses and is influenced by sex steroids. This study measured GR expression on circulating leukocyte subtypes in males and females. Methods A total of 23 healthy adults (12 female) participated in this study. GR expression was measured in leukocyte subtypes using flow cytometry. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression of GR (NR3C1), GR β, TGF-β1 and 2, and glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results Leukocyte GR was lower in females, particularly in granulocytes, natural killer cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p≤0.01). GR protein expression was different across leukocyte subtypes, with higher expression in eosinophils compared with granulocytes, T lymphocytes, and natural killer cells (p<0.05). There was higher gene expression of GR β in males (p=0.03). Conclusions This is the first study to identify sexual dimorphism in GR expression in healthy adults using flow cytometry. These results may begin to explain the sexual dimorphism seen in many diseases and sex differences in glucocorticoid responsiveness.
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Elgendy R, Giantin M, Montesissa C, Dacasto M. Transcriptomic analysis of skeletal muscle from beef cattle exposed to illicit schedules containing dexamethasone: identification of new candidate biomarkers and their validation using samples from a field monitoring trial. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2015; 32:1448-63. [DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2015.1070307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Proteomic identification of plasma proteins as markers of growth promoter abuse in cattle. Anal Bioanal Chem 2015; 407:4495-507. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-8651-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Pitardi D, Cini B, Paleologo M, Brouwer A, Behnisch P, van der Linden S, Vincenti M, Capra P, Gili M, Pezzolato M, Meloni D, Bozzetta E. Effect-based detection of synthetic glucocorticoids in bovine urine. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2015; 32:194-204. [DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2014.996788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Biancotto G, Stella R, Pozza G, Stefani A, Lega F, Angeletti R. Sub-therapeutic treatments of bulls with dexamethasone: direct and indirect markers of treatment. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2013; 30:430-42. [DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2012.749540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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7
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Bozzetta E, Pezzolato M, Maurella C, Varello K, Richelmi G, Draisci R, Ferranti C, D’Angelo A, Caramelli M. Development of an enhanced histopathological approach to detect low-dose dexamethasone illicit treatment in veal calves. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2011; 28:1187-92. [DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2011.584909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Bozzetta
- a Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148 , 10154 Turin , Italy
| | - M. Pezzolato
- a Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148 , 10154 Turin , Italy
| | - C. Maurella
- a Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148 , 10154 Turin , Italy
| | - K. Varello
- a Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148 , 10154 Turin , Italy
| | - G.B. Richelmi
- a Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148 , 10154 Turin , Italy
| | - R. Draisci
- b Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Viale Regina Elena 299 , 00161 Rome , Italy
| | - C. Ferranti
- b Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Viale Regina Elena 299 , 00161 Rome , Italy
| | - A. D’Angelo
- c Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Torino , Via Leonardo Da Vinci 44 , 10095 Grugliasco (Turin) , Italy
| | - M. Caramelli
- a Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte , Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148 , 10154 Turin , Italy
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Lopparelli RM, Giantin M, Pozza G, Stefani AL, Ravarotto L, Montesissa C, Dacasto M. Target gene expression signatures in neutrophils and lymphocytes from cattle administered with dexamethasone at growth promoting purposes. Res Vet Sci 2011; 93:226-33. [PMID: 21807391 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2011.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2011] [Revised: 06/22/2011] [Accepted: 07/09/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX), when used as a growth promoter, cause morphological and functional alterations in cattle lymphoid organs and cells. In the present experiment, the transcriptional effects of an illicit DEX protocol upon six target genes were investigated in cattle neutrophils (NEU) and lymphocytes (LFC). Blood samples were taken before (T(0)) and 2, 3, 10, 19, 31 and 43 days from the beginning of DEX administration (T(1)-T(6)). Leukocytes were counted and cells isolated by gradient centrifugation; then, glutathione peroxidase 1 and 3 (GPX1 and GPX3), glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GRα), l-selectin, nuclear factor κB, subunit p65 (NFκB) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) mRNA amounts were measured through a quantitative Real Time RT-PCR approach. A significant change vs controls in NEU/LFC ratio was noticed from T(3) forward. Compared to T(0), DEX significantly increased to a variable extent all candidate gene mRNAs abundances in NEU; in contrast, only l-selectin, GRα and GPX1 were significantly up-regulated in LFC. Present results suggest that illicit DEX affects transcription in cattle immune cells, that might be considered as a promising surrogate tissue for the screening of DEX abuse in cattle farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Lopparelli
- Dipartimento di Sanità pubblica, Patologia comparata ed Igiene veterinaria, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy
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Novel strategies for tracing the exposure of meat cattle to illegal growth-promoters. Vet J 2011; 189:34-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2010] [Revised: 06/22/2010] [Accepted: 06/23/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Stella R, Biancotto G, Krogh M, Angeletti R, Pozza G, Sorgato MC, James P, Andrighetto I. Protein expression changes in skeletal muscle in response to growth promoter abuse in beef cattle. J Proteome Res 2011; 10:2744-57. [PMID: 21425879 DOI: 10.1021/pr101255c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The fraudulent treatment of cattle with growth promoting agents (GPAs) is a matter of great concern for the European Union (EU) authorities and consumers. It has been estimated that 10% of animals are being illegally treated in the EU. In contrast, only a much lower percentage of animals (<0.5%) are actually found as being noncompliant by conventional analytical methods. Thus, it has been proposed that methods should be developed that can detect the use of the substances via the biological effects of these substances on target organs, such as the alteration of protein expression profiles. Here we present a study aimed at evaluating if a correlation exists between the treatment with GPAs and alterations in the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) protein pattern obtained from the biceps brachii skeletal muscle from mixed-bred cattle. After image analysis and statistical evaluation, protein spots that differentiate between treated and control groups were selected for analysis by mass spectrometry. A set of proteins could be defined that accurately detect the use of glucocorticoids and β(2)-agonists as growth promoters through the changes caused in muscle differentiation. As a further validation, we repeated the analysis using an independent set of samples from a strain of pure-bred cattle and verified these proteins by Western blot analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Stella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
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Odore R, Badino P, Re G, Barbero R, Cuniberti B, D'Angelo A, Girardi C, Fraccaro E, Tarantola M. Effects of housing and short-term transportation on hormone and lymphocyte receptor concentrations in beef cattle. Res Vet Sci 2010; 90:341-5. [PMID: 20646728 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2010] [Revised: 05/06/2010] [Accepted: 05/22/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of housing system and short-term transportation on the pituitary and adrenal response and on blood progesterone concentrations of beef cattle. Since the use of steroid hormones in farm animals has been banned in the EU (Council Directive 96/22/EC), it seems important to study the possible modifications in serum progesterone concentrations induced by stress in cattle. Thirty-two, 6 months old male Piedmontese beef cattle (16 reared in a littered loose house, Group A, and 16 housed in a littered tying stall barn, Group B) were blood sampled at T1 (6 months old), T2 (12 months old), T3 (18 months old, before transportation to the slaughterhouse) and T4 (after transportation to the slaughterhouse) in order to measure hormonal concentrations and lymphocyte glucocorticoid (GR) and β-adrenergic (β-AR) receptor concentrations. Circulating hormone concentrations were measured using commercial radioimmunoassay kits, whereas lymphocyte receptor density was determined through binding assays. In beef cattle housed in tie stall barn a significant increase in serum cortisol concentration was observed at T3, whereas there was no effect of the housing system on blood progesterone concentrations. Short-term transportation caused a significant increase in blood cortisol and catecholamine concentrations in both groups, whereas lymphocyte GR and β-AR significantly decreased in Group A. Our data confirm the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the catecholaminergic system in short-term transportation and suggest that the stress-induced increase in circulating progesterone concentrations does not exceed the limit established by pending legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Odore
- Department of Animal Pathology, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Turin, Italy.
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Cacciatore G, Eisenberg SW, Situ C, Mooney MH, Delahaut P, Klarenbeek S, Huet AC, Bergwerff AA, Elliott CT. Effect of growth-promoting 17β-estradiol, 19-nortestosterone and dexamethasone on circulating levels of nine potential biomarker candidates in veal calves. Anal Chim Acta 2009; 637:351-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2008.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2008] [Revised: 11/10/2008] [Accepted: 11/12/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Cunningham RT, Mooney MH, Xia XL, Crooks S, Matthews D, O’Keeffe M, Li K, Elliott CT. Feasibility of a Clinical Chemical Analysis Approach To Predict Misuse of Growth Promoting Hormones in Cattle. Anal Chem 2009; 81:977-83. [DOI: 10.1021/ac801966g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rodat T. Cunningham
- Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, U.K., School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH, U.K., Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Stoney Road, Belfast, Biometrics and Information Systems, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Headquarters, 18a NewForge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX, U.K
| | - Mark H. Mooney
- Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, U.K., School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH, U.K., Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Stoney Road, Belfast, Biometrics and Information Systems, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Headquarters, 18a NewForge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX, U.K
| | - Xiao-Lei Xia
- Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, U.K., School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH, U.K., Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Stoney Road, Belfast, Biometrics and Information Systems, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Headquarters, 18a NewForge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX, U.K
| | - Steven Crooks
- Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, U.K., School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH, U.K., Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Stoney Road, Belfast, Biometrics and Information Systems, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Headquarters, 18a NewForge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX, U.K
| | - David Matthews
- Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, U.K., School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH, U.K., Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Stoney Road, Belfast, Biometrics and Information Systems, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Headquarters, 18a NewForge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX, U.K
| | - Michael O’Keeffe
- Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, U.K., School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH, U.K., Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Stoney Road, Belfast, Biometrics and Information Systems, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Headquarters, 18a NewForge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX, U.K
| | - Kang Li
- Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, U.K., School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH, U.K., Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Stoney Road, Belfast, Biometrics and Information Systems, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Headquarters, 18a NewForge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX, U.K
| | - Christopher T. Elliott
- Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, U.K., School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AH, U.K., Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Stoney Road, Belfast, Biometrics and Information Systems, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), AFBI Headquarters, 18a NewForge Lane Belfast BT9 5PX, U.K
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Mooney MH, Situ C, Cacciatore G, Hutchinson T, Elliott C, Bergwerff AA. Plasma biomarker profiling in the detection of growth promoter use in calves. Biomarkers 2008; 13:246-56. [DOI: 10.1080/13547500701838593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Cantiello M, Carletti M, Dacasto M, Martin PG, Pineau T, Capolongo F, Gardini G, Nebbia C. Cytochrome P450 inhibition profile in liver of veal calves administered a combination of 17β-estradiol, clenbuterol, and dexamethasone for growth-promoting purposes. Food Chem Toxicol 2008; 46:2849-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2008.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2007] [Revised: 02/25/2008] [Accepted: 05/20/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Cantiello M, Carletti M, Cannizzo FT, Nebbia C, Bellino C, Pié S, Oswald IP, Bollo E, Dacasto M. Effects of an illicit cocktail on serum immunoglobulins, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine gene expression in the veal calf. Toxicology 2007; 242:39-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2007.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2007] [Revised: 09/03/2007] [Accepted: 09/04/2007] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Odore R, Badino P, Barbero R, Cuniberti B, Pagliasso S, Girardi C, Re G. Regulation of tissue β-adrenergic, glucocorticoid and androgen receptors induced by repeated exposure to growth promoters in male veal calves. Res Vet Sci 2007; 83:227-33. [PMID: 17307208 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2006.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2006] [Accepted: 12/17/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Biochemical modifications induced by a combination of anabolic compounds in target organs of male veal calves have been evaluated. Six male Friesian crossbred calves were treated with of 17beta-estradiol, dexamethasone sodium phosphate and clenbuterol or served as controls. beta-Adrenoceptors (beta-ARs) were measured in myocardium, lung, spleen, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and hypophysis, glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the spleen and androgen receptors (AnRs) in the testis, by binding assay. A significant decrease in beta-ARs was observed in all tissue samples from treated animals. In the spleen the two GR subtypes found, low (LA) and high (HA) affinity GRs, were down-regulated by the treatment. A significant (P<0.05) decrease of testis weight and a significant (P<0.05) up-regulation of AnRs was also observed. Our data demonstrate that long-term treatment with anabolic compounds markedly affects receptor concentrations in target organs of male veal calves. Thus, studies investigating biological assays as screening methods to detect such compounds should be encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Odore
- Department of Animal Pathology, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
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