Hershberger test

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The Hershberger test or Hershberger assay is an in vivo test method ( bioassay ) for the detection of an androgenic or anabolic effect of substances in rats . The method is named after TV Hershberger, who developed a number of in vivo assays in rats in the 1960s and 1970s .

There are several variants of the Hershberger assay which differ in the amount of test substance or in the number of effects measured in the rat. In principle, several castrated rats that are not sexually mature are used, to which a steroid or other test substance to be investigated is administered intramuscularly for at least one week. The test animals are then dissected and the weights of the levator ani muscle , the seminal vesicle and the ventral prostate are determined. An anabolic effect occurs when the weight of the levator ani muscle has increased. If the weight of the seminal vesicle and prostate has increased, there is an androgenic effect. the ratio of the anabolic and androgenic weight effects can be given as an index (Hershberger index).

In addition to the levator ani muscle , the weight of the bulbocavernosus muscle can also be determined. In addition to the androgenic effects, the weight of the glans penis and Cowpers' glands can also be determined.

When combining known androgenic substances with a substance to be examined, the Hershberger assay can also be used to detect anti-androgenic effects or effects influencing the endocrine system. The lack of weight gain with simultaneous administration of z. B. Testosterone or Nandrolone determined.

As part of a global risk study by the OECD on the emission of substances that may have androgenic effects, the Hershberger assay is currently being standardized and used for environmental analysis . The Hershberger assay has a certain importance in the assessment of doping substances, which are mainly anabolic but less androgenic.

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  1. ↑ Hartsock and TV Hershberger: Effect of synthetic steroid or phenanthrene compounds upon weight gain and feed efficiency of rats . Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. (1961) 106: pp. 57-60 PMID 13712007
  2. ↑ RW Wallenius, JW Hibbs and TV Hershberger: Use of bioassay techniques with rats to measure the antithyrotoxic factor in roughages and other materials . J. Nutr. (1971) 101 (5): pp. 621-628 PMID 4102822
  3. ↑ HG Kang et al .: Chlropyrifos-methyl shows anti-androgenic activity without estrogenic activity in rats . Toxicology (2004) 199: pp. 219-230 PMID 15147795
  4. ↑ T. Yamada et al .: Enhanced rat Hershberger assay appears reliable for detection of not only (anti-) androgenic chemicals but also thyroid hormone modulators . Toxicol. Science (2004) 79, 1: pp. 64-74 PMID 14976338
  5. ↑ W. Owens, E. Zeiger et al .: The OECD program to validate the rat Hershberger bioassay to screen compounds for in vivo androgen and antiandrogen responses. Phase 1: use of a potent agonist and a potent antagonist to test the standardized protocol . Environ. Health Perspect. (2006) 114, 8: pp. 1259-1265 PMID 16882536
  6. ↑ W. Owens, LE Gray et al .: The OECD program to validate the rat Hershberger bioassay to screen compounds for in vivo androgen and antiandrogen responses: phase 2 dose-response studies . Environ. Health. Perspect. (2007) 115, 5: pp. 671-678 PMID 17520051