The use of testosterone in domestic animals - therapeutic and anabolic activities

Spolni hormoni, poput testosterona, su tvari koje sintetiziraju spolne žlijezde. Riječ je o tvarima koje su uključene u endokrinu regulaciju rasta, kao i u razvoj spolnih karakteristika, kako u životinjskom, tako i u ljudskom organizmu. Spolni hormoni imaju čitav niz vrlo bitnih funkcija u organizmu. Osim na razvoj spolnih karakteristika, spolni hormoni mogu utjecati i na još nekoliko bitnih segmenata, poput rasta te se stoga upotrebljavaju u terapijske i anaboličke svrhe. Postoje četiri skupine spolnih hormona i to: androgeni, estrogeni, gestageni te relaksini. Cilj ovog rada je dati pregled literature o uporabi spolnih hormona u terapijske i anaboličke svrhe s naglaskom na testosteron. Naime, testosteron je najvažniji prirodni androgen koji se izlučuje u testisima te stimulira razvoj muških spolnih žlijezda te spolnih karakteristika, a najčešće se koristi u kombinaciji sa 17β-estradiolom. U radu se posebno ističe negativno djelovanje testosterona koji pri medicinski neopravdanoj uporabi može prouzročiti i mutacije gena te pojavu tumora. Što se tiče uporabe u terapijske svrhe, spolni hormoni, uključujući testosteron, mogu se opravdano koristiti kako bi se prevenirali i smanjili zdravstveni problemi u reproduktivnom sustavu. S druge strane, njihova neprimjerena uporaba u cilju poboljšanja rasta i ostvarivanja financijske dobiti, odnosno u anaboličke svrhe, nije legalna s obzirom da mogu negativno djelovati ne samo na životinje, nego i na ljude kao konzumenta hrane životinjskog podrijetla. Slijedom toga, u proizvodnji konzumnih životinja zakonom je regulirana uporaba spolnih hormona, uključujući i testosteron. Osim nadležnih tijela vrlo bitnu ulogu u nadzoru ovih tvari, imaju i veterinarske službe i referentni laboratoriji. U budućnosti je potrebno pronaći alternativna rješenja za terapijsku primjenu hormona u farmskih životinja, a sustavi kontrole trebaju biti vrlo učinkoviti kako bi se isključila mogućnost zlouporabe ovih tvari u anaboličke svrhe.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