The effect of long-term exposure to combinations of growth promoters in Long Evans rats: Part 1: Endocrine adrenal function Original Research Article

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the chronic administration (45 days) of clenbuterol (CB) at a growth promoting dose (1 mg kg−1 bw) and/or dexamethasone (DEX: 0.1 mg kg−1 bw) may cause the disruption of rat endocrine adrenal function. Blood samples were taken weekly during the whole experiment (S0–S7), and at different days of withdrawal (W0, W5, W10, W15 and W20). Hormone profiles were determined by RIA (ACTH) or EIA (corticosterone and catecholamines). ACTH showed significantly elevated concentrations from S1 until W5 (p < 0.05) with CB administration. It began to decrease the day of DEX and CB-DEX administration. DEX showed significantly lowered ACTH concentrations from the day of drug injection (p < 0.05). Corticosterone showed significantly elevated levels until W10 (p < 0.01) with CB and CB + DEX. DEX showed lowered levels of corticosterone during the whole withdrawal period. Epinephrine presented significantly elevated plasma levels until W5 with CB and CB + DEX. With DEX, epinephrine was also elevated from W5 to W15 (p < 0.05). Norepinephrine also presented significantly elevated plasma levels until S7 with CB and CB + DEX (p < 0.001). With DEX no differences were found. Conclusion: Long-term administration of CB and/or DEX causes an endocrine adrenal disruption with changes in ACTH, glucocorticoid and catecholamine secretion.