GLUCOCORTICOID ANALYSIS: Food safety screening - synthetic glucocorticoids

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 99.0277

Key words (English)

Synthetic glucocorticoids; food safety; surveillance procedures

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK1-1999-00122

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.1 Food, nutrition and health

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Universität Zürich
Veterinärmedizinische Fakultät
Institut für Veterinärpharmakologie und -toxikologie

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: University of Gent (B)

Abstract (English)

Objectives:
The goal of this project is to develop and disseminate innovative methods for the detection of synthetic glucocorticoids in animal fluids and tissues. Synthetic glucocorticoids are extremely potent analogues of the endogenous hormone hydrocortisone. Despite their broad use in livestock for human consumption, monitoring programmes for residues of these compounds have not been implemented in the European Union. On the contrary, the lack of detection methods for glucocorticoids stimulates their illicit use to increase animal weight, to pass antemortem inspec-tions or to mask injections of antibiotic/hormone cocktails. Maximal residue limits and withdrawal times for veterinary preparations containing synthetic glucocorticoids have been proposed, but analytical methods to control the enforcement of such regulations are entirely missing. Thus, this project will promote food safety and consumer health as well as the harmonization of surveillance procedures.
Description of the work:
Our project includes 5 different work packages and is based on significant and balanced contributions from 7 partners. The specific goals of each work package are as follows:
1-Development of a chemoluminescence immunoassay for the fast and sensitive detection of synthetic glucocorticoids in urine.
2-Development of confirmatory methods based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass-spectrometric analysis (LC-MS); these confirmatory methods will be supported by efficient liquid-liquid, solid phase, and immunoaffinity clean-up procedures for the rapid and quantitative recovery of synthetic glucocorticoid residues from muscle tissue and other relevant biological matrices.
3-Development of a reporter gene-mediated bioassay to detect synthetic glucocorticoids or active metabolites on the basis of their pharmacological potencies.
4-Development of a proteome analysis method for the identification of selective changes in the protein expression pattern of liver or other organs resulting from exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids (glucocorticoid markers).
5-Supporting activities directed to the production of animal samples containing radiolabeled or nonlabeled glucocortidoid residues, their screening using the newly developed analytical methods, and the dissemination of these analytical methods in workshops as well as by electronic means on the Internet.
Milestones and expected results:
In view of their potent hormonal effects, synthetic glucocorticoids constitute a serious health hazard. Our project will yield screening (immunoassay, reporter gene and proteome analysis) and confirmatory methods (LC-MS) that provide the analytical basis for control programmes in support of Community policies concerned with food safety and human health. In a broader perspective, these methods will prevent trade barriers and increase consumer confidence, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of European food production.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0277