Possible New Screening Method for Anabolic Agents

Anabolic androgenic substances (AAS) increase musclemass, reduce total body fat and induce a positivenitrogen balance, resulting in higherperformance. Therefore the use of AAS in competitivesports is of extreme attractivness but strictlyillegal. In animal husbandry the application of AASis legal in some countries but forbidden in theEU. Also in medical therapies anabolic agents areapplied. The residue analysis methods for AAS are mostly basedon confirmation of suspected samples via substanceidentification by mass spectrometry. It is alsoknown that AAS can influence mRNA expression ofspecific genes.The aim of this thesis was to proof the possibilityto detect AAS treatment via mRNA expression analysis.With the identification of biomarkers foranabolic agents using qRT-PCR, a gene expressionpattern for AAS and metabolic pathways should beidentified. First tissue specific biomarkers and effects onmetabolic pathways could be detected. Thesesbiomarkers can be taken to establish a screeningpattern for anabolic agents.Therefore, first steps toward a new screening methodfor anabolic agents could be done, helping touncover abuses of anabolic agents in the future.