Anabolic steroids induced changes at the level of protein expression: Effects of prolonged administration of testosterone and nandrolone to pigs.

Synthetic derivatives of steroid hormones, specifically anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), have gained prominence due to their observed benefits in enhancing meat quality. The study replicated the administration of banned AAS and investigated their impacts on pigs to contribute to the understanding of animal biochemistry and to explore the feasibility of detecting AAS administration by employing a non-targeted analysis. The effects were corroborated by evaluating changes in the expression of selected proteins, as well as examining haematological and biochemical profiles and histological alterations. Exposure to AAS influenced the expression of proteins related to drug-metabolizing enzymes, muscle and lipid metabolism, kidney function, reproductive processes, immune system functions, and carcinogenic changes. The effects of AAS appear intricate and contingent on factors such as the specific drug used, dosage, and duration of administration. The results underscore that protein expression analysis holds promise as a valuable tool for detecting illicit AAS use in the fattening process.

RNAseq Analysis of Livers from Pigs Treated with Testosterone and Nandrolone Esters: Selection and Field Validation of Transcriptional Biomarkers.

The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) as growth promoters in farm animals is banned in the European Union, representing both an illicit practice and a risk for consumer health. However, these compounds are still illegally administered, often in the form of synthetic esters. This work aimed to characterize significant coding RNA perturbations related to the illicit administration of testosterone and nandrolone esters in fattening pigs. A total of 27 clinically healthy 90-day-old pigs were randomly assigned to test and control groups. Nine animals were treated with testosterone esters (Sustanon®) and other nine with nandrolone esters (Myodine®). At the end of the trial, liver samples were collected and analyzed using RNAseq, allowing the identification of 491 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The transcriptional signature was further characterized by a smaller sub-cluster of 143 DEGs, from which a selection of 16 genes was made. The qPCR analysis confirmed that the identified cluster could still give good discrimination between untreated gilt and barrows compared to the relative testosterone-treated counterparts. A conclusive field survey on 67 liver samples collected from pigs of different breeds and weight categories confirmed, in agreement with testosterone residue profiles, the specificity of selected transcriptional biomarkers, showing their potential applications for screening purposes when AAS treatment is suspected, allowing to focus further investigations of competent authorities and confirmatory analysis where needed.

The use of functional amino acids in different categories of pigs - A review.

The present review deals with a particularly important topic: the use of functional amino acids in different categories of pigs. It is especially relevant in the context of the current efforts to reduce the use of antibiotics in pig farming and the search for possible alternatives to replace them. The review is based on the definition that functional amino acids (FAAs) are classified as dispensable amino acids, but with additional biological functions, i.e., not only are they used for protein formation, but they are also involved in regulating essential metabolic pathways to improve health, survival, growth, and development. We describe the mechanism of action of individual FAAs and their potential use in pigs, including glutamate, glutamine, arginine, branched-chain amino acids (i.e., leucine, isoleucine, and valine), tryptophan and glycine. The work is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the FAAs and their role in the overall health of sows and their offspring. The second part describes the use of functional amino acids in piglets after weaning. Part three examines the use of functional amino acids in growing and fattening pigs and their impact on meat quality.

Dosage Optimisation of Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole for the Treatment of an Avian Pathogenic Strain of Escherichia coli in Broiler Chickens.

Based on pharmacokinetic studies carried out according to the methodologies defined by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) using mass spectrometry analysis, a new formulation of a veterinary drug for the treatment of broiler chickens is proposed. Currently, the traditional trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole drug used for broilers is applied in a 1:5 ratio, and the recommended dose is 45 mg kg-1 of live weight administered at 24 h intervals for 3 to 5 days. In this study, we propose a novel combination containing similar active substances in a newly established ratio of 1:4, with a recommended dosage of 20 mg kg-1 of live weight administered at 24 h intervals for 3 to 5 days. With this method, the currently recommended dose of the traditional trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole drug used for broilers can be reduced by more than half. The efficacy of the newly designed formulation and dosage of the drug was verified in a bioassay for the treatment of broilers experimentally infected with an avian pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli. In the experiment, we compared the newly designed dosage with the traditional dosage in terms of efficacy and dosage. There were no statistically significant differences between the two drugs in efficacy regarding the survival of chickens after experimental infection or changes in their health status. The experimental results suggest that a significant reduction in the recommended daily dose of drugs containing trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole for the treatment of bacterial infections in broilers is possible and can support the prudent use of antimicrobials, including the limitation of their overuse.