Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 49 No. 4, 2018.
Pregledni rad
The use of testosterone in domestic animals - therapeutic and anabolic activities
Marko Samardžija
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Tea Magaš
; Hrvatska
Luka Radmanić
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Jelka Pleadin
orcid.org/0000-0002-0768-0462
; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
Sex hormones such as testosterone are substances synthesized by the sexual glands. These substances are involved in endocrine regulation of growth, and the development of sexual characteristics both in animals and humans. Sex hormones have a number of very important functions. Apart from the development of sexual characteristics, sex hormones may also affect several other important segments, such as growth, and are used for therapeutic and anabolic purposes. There are four groups of sex hormones, androgens, oestrogens, gestagens and relaxants. The aim of this paper was to review the literature on the use of sex hormones for therapeutic and anabolic purpose with an emphasis on testosterone. Specifically, testosterone is the most important natural androgen excreted in the testicles and stimulates the development of male sex glands and sexual characteristics. It is most commonly used in combination with 17β-oestradiol. In this paper, the negative effects of testosterone are particularly emphasized, which can
cause genetic mutations and the appearance of tumours in medically unjustified use. As far as therapeutic use is concerned, these testosterone-specific hormones can be used to prevent and reduce health problems in the reproductive system. On the other hand, inadequate use of sex hormones to improve growth to achieve financial gain or anabolic purposes is not legal since they can have a negative effect not only on the animal but also on the human as a consumer of foods of animal origin. Consequently, the law regulates the use of sex hormones including testosterone. In addition to the competent authorities, veterinary services and reference laboratories have a very important role in the control of these substances. In the future, alternative solutions for the therapeutic use of hormones in farm animals need to be found, and control systems should be effective in excluding the possibility of abuse of these substances for anabolic purposes.
Ključne riječi
sex hormones; testosterone; therapeutic effect; anabolic action
Hrčak ID:
223177
URI
Datum izdavanja:
22.7.2018.
Posjeta: 1.382 *