Pharmacological and endocrinological studies on anabolic agents

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pharmacology
• Endocrinology
• Food Safety

Background:

• Anabolic agents are used in animal production, including steroidal hormones like testosterone and 19-nortestosterone.
• Trenbolone acetate, often combined with hexestrol, is recommended for bull and heifer fattening.
• Assessing consumer risk requires understanding the pharmacological properties, effective doses, and residue levels of these agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the pharmacological properties of trenbolone acetate in comparison to other anabolic agents.
• To determine the potential risk of consumer injury from ingesting meat from animals treated with anabolic agents.
• To assess the residue levels of trenbolone acetate in meat.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of trenbolone acetate with methenolone acetate, methandrostenolone, nandrone, androstanazole, and 19-nortestosterone.
• Evaluation of anabolic, androgenic, and antigonadotropic activities.
• Calculation of potential human exposure based on animal effective doses and recommended livestock fattening doses.

Main Results:

• Trenbolone acetate exhibits a similar activity spectrum to 19-nortestosterone and derived anabolics.
• It possesses approximately three times the androgenic effect of testosterone propionate, with an anabolic/androgenic dissociation index of 2-3.
• The antigonadotropic activity of trenbolone acetate is three times that of testosterone propionate; it is not estrogenic and weakly progestational.

Conclusions:

• The androgenic and antigonadotropic effects of trenbolone acetate are significant.
• Calculations suggest that the recommended dose for livestock fattening (300 mg) would not result in harmful hormone residues in meat.
• Consumer risk from meat consumption is considered negligible based on calculated residue levels.