title: Regucalcin Expression as a Diagnostic Tool for the Illicit Use of Steroids in Veal Calves.
abstract: It has been previously demonstrated that sex steroid hormone treatment down-regulates regucalcin gene expression in the accessory sex glands and testis of prepubertal and adult male bovines. The aim of this study was to investigate whether low doses of sex steroid hormones combined with other drugs significantly affect regucalcin gene expression in the accessory sex glands and testis of veal calves. The regucalcin expression was down-regulated in the bulbo-urethral glands of estrogen-treated calves, whereas it was up-regulated in the prostate of estrogen-treated calves. Only the testis of androgen-treated calves showed a down-regulation of the regucalcin expression. Thus, the administration of sex steroid hormones, even in low doses and combined with other molecules, could affect regucalcin expression in target organs. Particularly, the specific response in the testis suggests regucalcin expression in this organ as a first molecular biomarker of illicit androgen administration in bovine husbandry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (Turin), Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Starvaggi Cucuzza
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (Turin), Italy.
authors.forename: Bartolomeo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biolatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (Turin), Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sereno
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (Turin), Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Cannizzo
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002030:Bulbourethral Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000662:veterinary*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones
keywords: biomarker; gene expression; regucalcin; sex steroid hormones; veal calves