The illegal use of growth-promoting agents is a significant problem in animal production. In this context, sex steroids, β-agonists, thyreostatics and corticosteroids are often administered to cattle. Anabolic steroids increase growth rate, stimulate the growth of muscle and reduce fat tissue in calves by acting on lipid and protein metabolism. The use of natural and synthetic hormones as growth promoters in food producing animals is prohibited in the European Union and analytical methods are employed to prevent their illegal use. The intent of this work is to verify the potential changes in different muscles of calves treated with predinosolon, estradiol-trembolon (Revalor) and desametazon compared with a control group. Samples of the quadriceps femoris, biceps brachial, diaphragm and longissimus dorsi were collected at the slaughterhouse from each animal. The present study was performed on quadriceps femoris only. Histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate morphology and enzymatic activity. Particular attention was made to identify the different type of muscular fibers by means of specific antibodies recognizing type I, IIa and IIx fibres. Three different antibody were texted: F18(Developmental studies Hybridoma Bank, Iowa, USA), Mab1628 (Millipore, U.K.) and A4.74 (Developmental studies Hbrydoma Bank, Iowa, USA). No significative lesions were reported by means of morphological and enzymatic methods. Minimum fibres diameter was estimated whit ImageJ program and ANOVA test was used for statistical evaluations. Type I fibres of both treated groups are significantly reduced in diameter compared with the control group. In human literature it is reported that glucocorticoids have a direct catabolic effect on muscle, decreasing protein synthesis and increasing the rate of protein catabolism leading to muscle atrophy (type II fibres). In authors opinion this is the first analytical study of muscle changes in calves treated with growth-promoting agents. A selective action of these substances, as reported in human, could be hypothesize even if further investigations are in progress in order to verify this preliminary results.
Histological and immunohistochemical investigation of muscle from calves treated with growth promoters: preliminary data.
BIASIBETTI, ELENA;CATALANO, DEBORAH;AMEDEO, Stefano;BIOLATTI, Bartolomeo;CAPUCCHIO, Maria Teresa
2010-01-01
Abstract
The illegal use of growth-promoting agents is a significant problem in animal production. In this context, sex steroids, β-agonists, thyreostatics and corticosteroids are often administered to cattle. Anabolic steroids increase growth rate, stimulate the growth of muscle and reduce fat tissue in calves by acting on lipid and protein metabolism. The use of natural and synthetic hormones as growth promoters in food producing animals is prohibited in the European Union and analytical methods are employed to prevent their illegal use. The intent of this work is to verify the potential changes in different muscles of calves treated with predinosolon, estradiol-trembolon (Revalor) and desametazon compared with a control group. Samples of the quadriceps femoris, biceps brachial, diaphragm and longissimus dorsi were collected at the slaughterhouse from each animal. The present study was performed on quadriceps femoris only. Histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate morphology and enzymatic activity. Particular attention was made to identify the different type of muscular fibers by means of specific antibodies recognizing type I, IIa and IIx fibres. Three different antibody were texted: F18(Developmental studies Hybridoma Bank, Iowa, USA), Mab1628 (Millipore, U.K.) and A4.74 (Developmental studies Hbrydoma Bank, Iowa, USA). No significative lesions were reported by means of morphological and enzymatic methods. Minimum fibres diameter was estimated whit ImageJ program and ANOVA test was used for statistical evaluations. Type I fibres of both treated groups are significantly reduced in diameter compared with the control group. In human literature it is reported that glucocorticoids have a direct catabolic effect on muscle, decreasing protein synthesis and increasing the rate of protein catabolism leading to muscle atrophy (type II fibres). In authors opinion this is the first analytical study of muscle changes in calves treated with growth-promoting agents. A selective action of these substances, as reported in human, could be hypothesize even if further investigations are in progress in order to verify this preliminary results.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
