Regulation of tissue beta-adrenergic, glucocorticoid and androgen receptors induced by repeated exposure to growth promoters in male veal calves.
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.
Odore
Rosangela
R
Department of Animal Pathology, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy. rosangela.odore@unito.it
Badino
Paola
P
Barbero
Raffaella
R
Cuniberti
Barbara
B
Pagliasso
Susanna
S
Girardi
Carlo
C
Re
Giovanni
G
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; C004180:dexamethasone 21-phosphate; D004958:Estradiol; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002976:Clenbuterol