The Effect of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids on the Growth and Metabolism of Carp

Abstract

Groups of juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were fed diets supplemented with eight anabolic-androgenic steroids and one anti-androgenic steroid at doses of 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 mg/kg dry diet for sixty or ninety days, and their effect on growth, food conversion and body composition observed. Seven of these nine steroids when given at lower doses, significantly increased the growth rate and food conversion efficiency. The effect of these drugs on hepato-, reno-, cranio and viscero-somatic index was variable. In all the drugs the concentration of hormones which induced growth also brought concurrent changes in RNA, DNA and proteins of liver, kidney, brain and muscle. The uptake and disappearance of the 3H-testosterone was also studied. Twenty days after the withdrawal of the labelled steroid, the concentration of radioactivity in the carp muscle was 2.79 ng/g of the fresh weight. It is concluded that anabolic-androgenic steroids can manifest pronounced anabolic activity and have great potential as growth promotants in aquaculture.