Progesterone receptor up-regulation: a diagnostic tool for the illicit use of oestrogens in adult beef cattle

Divari, Sara; Mulasso, C.; Uslenghi, Federica; Cannizzo, Francesca Tiziana; Spada, Francesca; Maria, Raffaella De; Brina, N.; Biolatti, B.

doi:10.1080/19440049.2011.609492

Cited by 10 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Particularly, the transcriptomic approach could facilitate the identification of biomarkers suitable for the detection of illegally treated animals. Recent studies have shown that progesterone receptor (PR) gene expression levels were increased in the bulbo-urethral and prostate glands of 17β-estradiol-treated calves and beef cattle [53] , [57] . For potential use in food safety monitoring, a quantitative PCR (qPCR) method has been developed for the detection of up-regulated PR gene expression in the bulbo-urethral glands of beef cattle and veal calves illegally administered 17β-estradiol [58] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regucalcin Expression in Bovine Tissues and Its Regulation by Sex Steroid Hormones in Accessory Sex Glands

et al. 2014

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Regucalcin (RGN) is a mammalian Ca2+-binding protein that plays an important role in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Recently, RGN has been identified as a target gene for sex steroid hormones in the prostate glands and testis of rats and humans, but no studies have focused on RGN expression in bovine tissues. Thus, in the present study, we examined RGN mRNA and protein expression in the different tissues and organs of veal calves and beef cattle. Moreover, we investigated whether RGN expression is controlled through sex steroid hormones in bovine target tissues, namely the bulbo-urethral and prostate glands and the testis. Sex steroid hormones are still illegally used in bovine husbandry to increase muscle mass. The screening of the regulation and function of anabolic sex steroids via modified gene expression levels in various tissues represents a new approach for the detection of illicit drug treatments. Herein, we used quantitative PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses to demonstrate RGN mRNA and protein expression in bovine tissues. In addition, estrogen administration down-regulated RGN gene expression in the accessory sex glands of veal calves and beef cattle, while androgen treatment reduced RGN gene expression only in the testis. The confirmation of the regulation of RGN gene expression through sex steroid hormones might facilitate the potential detection of hormone abuse in bovine husbandry. Particularly, the specific response in the testis suggests that this tissue is ideal for the detection of illicit androgen administration in veal calves and beef cattle.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regucalcin Expression in Bovine Tissues and Its Regulation by Sex Steroid Hormones in Accessory Sex Glands

et al. 2014

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“…PR immunopositivity found in both prostate and bulbourethral glands of control animals confirmed that PRs can be normally expressed in the accessory sex glands of bulls. In a previous study, 11 PR gene and protein expression were evaluated in bulls treated with a subcutaneous implant a for 89 d. Treated animals exhibited diffuse PR positivity in both accessory glands, whereas control animals showed weak multifocal positivity, mainly at the periphery of the glands. Although quantitative evaluation of the IHC results was not performed in that study, significant up-regulation of the PR messenger RNA was highlighted in both glands of treated animals (age range: 13–22 mo).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semiquantitative immunohistochemical detection of progesterone receptors in male accessory sex glands as a screening assay for anabolic steroid use in bulls

et al. 2017

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We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of progesterone receptors (PRs) in the prostate and bulbourethral glands of thirty-two 10-14-mo-old Charolais bulls following treatment with a low dosage of estrogens. Animals were divided into 2 groups: 16 animals (group T) were treated for 71 d with a therapeutic dose of trenbolone acetate and estradiol by subcutaneous implant, 16 animals (group C) received no treatment. Urine samples were collected both at the beginning of the trial and 9 times during the study. A semiquantitative analysis of immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed by counting the number of positive cells in 10 randomly selected high-power fields (hpf). Both groups showed no significant histologic lesions. IHC examination showed positive cells in the epithelium of both glands, with different patterns of distribution between groups. In group C, IHC-positive cells per hpf varied from 0 to 40 in the prostate and from 0 to 32 in the bulbourethral gland. In group T, positive cells varied from 0 to 85 per hpf in the prostate and from 0 to 75 in the bulbourethral gland. The treated group showed significantly higher median numbers of positively stained cells in both organs than the controls ( p < 0.001). Chemical analysis of the urine samples confirmed that the experimental treatment mimics continuous, low-dose administration of anabolic steroids. IHC quantification showed good sensitivity with a high predictive power to correctly classify treated animals and could be used as a preliminary screening test in bulls.

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“…A variety of non-invasive sampling methods are necessary for diagnostic testing of disease, detecting contamination, assessing responses to an environmental stressor or endogenous physiological factor, understanding the mechanism of steroid action, detecting steroids of abuse (Heitzman, 1976 ; De Jager et al, 2011 ; Divari et al, 2011 ), and assessing the reproductive status of wild and livestock populations. Fecal samples are used in wild or threatened populations (Borque et al, 2011 ).…”

Section: Endocrine Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contextual modulation of social and endocrine correlates of fitness: insights from the life history of a sex changing fish

2015

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Steroid hormones are critical regulators of reproductive life history, and the steroid sensitive traits (morphology, behavior, physiology) associated with particular life history stages can have substantial fitness consequences for an organism. Hormones, behavior and fitness are reciprocally associated and can be used in an integrative fashion to understand how the environment impacts organismal function. To address the fitness component, we highlight the importance of using reliable proxies of reproductive success when studying proximate regulation of reproductive phenotypes. To understand the mechanisms by which the endocrine system regulates phenotype, we discuss the use of particular endocrine proxies and the need for appropriate functional interpretation of each. Lastly, in any experimental paradigm, the responses of animals vary based on the subtle differences in environmental and social context and this must also be considered. We explore these different levels of analyses by focusing on the fascinating life history transitions exhibited by the bi-directionally hermaphroditic fish, Lythrypnus dalli. Sex changing fish are excellent models for providing a deeper understanding of the fitness consequences associated with behavioral and endocrine variation. We close by proposing that local regulation of steroids is one potential mechanism that allows for the expression of novel phenotypes that can be characteristic of specific life history stages. A comparative species approach will facilitate progress in understanding the diversity of mechanisms underlying the contextual regulation of phenotypes and their associated fitness correlates.

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Progesterone receptor up-regulation: a diagnostic tool for the illicit use of oestrogens in adult beef cattle

Cited by 10 publications

References 46 publications

Regucalcin Expression in Bovine Tissues and Its Regulation by Sex Steroid Hormones in Accessory Sex Glands

Regucalcin Expression in Bovine Tissues and Its Regulation by Sex Steroid Hormones in Accessory Sex Glands

Semiquantitative immunohistochemical detection of progesterone receptors in male accessory sex glands as a screening assay for anabolic steroid use in bulls

Contextual modulation of social and endocrine correlates of fitness: insights from the life history of a sex changing fish

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