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The evaluation of endocrine regulators after intramuscular and oral application of cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin in rabbits

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Abstract

The present in vivo study was designed to reveal whether amygdalin is able to cause changes in the endocrine profile and thus alter the key reproductive and physiological functions, using rabbits as a biological model. 40 adult female rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: the control group without any amygdalin administration, two experimental groups received a daily intramuscular injection of amygdalin at dose 0.6 and 3.0 mg kg−1 b.w. and other two groups were fed by crushed apricot seeds at dose 60 and 300 mg kg−1 b.w., mixed with commercial feed over the period of 28 days. The body weight of each experimental animal was recorded weekly during the whole study. Plasma levels of steroid (progesterone, 17β-estradiol, testosterone), thyroid (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone), as well as anterior pituitary (prolactin, luteinizing hormone) hormones were assessed by ELISA. Intramuscular application of amygdalin did not affect (P ≥ 0.05) the plasma levels of none of the endocrine regulators selected. Oral form of amygdalin did not induce significant changes in the plasma levels of examined hormones either. Similarly, no clinically noticeable changes in the average body weight of experimental animals were observed. Our findings indicate that intramuscular and oral application of amygdalin did not significantly affect the plasma levels of studied endocrine regulators in experimental rabbits. In this in vivo study, no obvious beneficial or negative effects of amygdalin on the physiological functions of female rabbits were demonstrated. Short-term intake of amygdalin at the recommended doses does not represent risk for animal health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, SK-94976, Nitra, Slovakia

    Marek Halenar, Katarina Zbynovska, Anton Kovacik & Adriana Kolesarova

  2. Animal Production Research Centre Nitra, National Agricultural and Food Center, Hlohovecká 2, SK-95141, Lužianky, Slovakia

    Lubica Chrastinova, Lubomír Ondruska & Rastislav Jurcik

  3. Research Centre AgroBioTech, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, SK-94976, Nitra, Slovakia

    Eva Tusimova

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  1. Marek Halenar
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  2. Lubica Chrastinova
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  4. Rastislav Jurcik
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  5. Katarina Zbynovska
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Correspondence to Marek Halenar.

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Halenar, M., Chrastinova, L., Ondruska, L. et al. The evaluation of endocrine regulators after intramuscular and oral application of cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin in rabbits. Biologia 72, 468–474 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2017-0044

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2017-0044

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