Detection of illegal treatment of barrows with nandrolone ester; effects on growth, histology and residue levels in urine and hair

Maria Groot (1) , Johan Lasaroms (2) , Eric van Bennekom (2) , Thijs Meijer (2) , Ester Vinyeta (3) , Jan-Dirk van Der Klis (2) , Michel Nielen (4, 2)

1 Bioanalysis and Toxicology
2 Analysis and Development
3 Schothorst Feed Research B.V.
4 Laboratory of Organic Chemistry [Wageningen]

Abstract To evaluate the effects of 17β-19-nortestosterone (17βNT ) treatment of barrows on residue levels and on growth results, an animal experiment was conducted. Five barrows were treated 3 times during the fattening period with 17βNT phenylpropionate (Nandrosol, nandrolone phenylpropionate 50 mg/ml,1 mg/kg BW). Another 5 barrows were not treated, and 5 boars (not treated) were kept as a positive control. Boars and treated barrows showed 13 % and 9 % better growth than not-treated barrows, leading to mean final body weights of 121.6, 117.8 and 109.0 kg respectively. Moreover the bulbourethral glands of the treated barrows were 3 times heavier than the not-treated barrows. The histology of the prostate and bulbourethral gland of the treated barrows was comparable to the boars, whereas the control barrows showed atrophic glands. Levels of 17βNT ester in hair from treated barrows were high, whereas boars and non-treated barrows did not show levels above LLQ. It is concluded that analysis of hair can provide a method for detection of illegal treatment with 17βNT ester in barrows. The size of the bulbourethral gland can be used for screening in the slaughterhouse.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Maria Groot, Johan Lasaroms, Eric van Bennekom, Thijs Meijer, Ester Vinyeta, et al.. Detection of illegal treatment of barrows with nandrolone ester; effects on growth, histology and residue levels in urine and hair. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2012, pp.1. ⟨10.1080/19440049.2011.647097⟩. ⟨hal-00783341⟩