Koserstr. 20
14195 Berlin
+49 30 838 53221
pharmakologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de
Drug-doping in animals originated from the knowledge of animal therapeutics throughout human history. The historic use of roborancia and tonic remedies is interpreted as an early form of drugdoping.In the middle ages birds of prey were manipulated by using tonic remedies and hormones to ensure a seasonable moulting, an indispensable precondition for a successful hunt.Fighting cocks and racing pigeons have been doped by using mechanical methods, as well as tonic and anti-inflammatory remedies.The historic doping of racing horses and racing dogs was dominated by using narcotic and exhilarating drugs, such as cocaine and opium, as well as suppressive and toxic plant extracts.The first successful doping tests were performed in the early 20th century although it took another fifty years to establish an international analytical drug testing standard. Today, local anaesthetic and antiinflammatory drugs dominate positive drug tests. Bio-doping, the application endogenous substances, is an increasing business in modern doping.However, the manipulation of the animals" pain sensation was always highly related to their performance. In this context, acupuncture has been proven to increase the animals" performance due to the release of natural occurring opioids.For a better understanding towards the effect of acupuncture in the anti-nociceptive system, a new test has been developed to detect typical endogenous opioids in the Plasma and Cerebrospinal fluid of dogs by using a combined method of HPLC and ELISA technology.In this study acupuncture was used to increase the endomorphin levels in Liquor cerebrospinalis and Plasma from fourteen dogs. Time dependant changes were monitored in comparison to a placebo group of eight dogs.Significant changes of the endomorphin secretions were detected in Liquor cerebrospinalis ut not in Bloodplasma.The baselevels of typical opioids of 6,95 ng/mI + 4,24 ng/mI (median: 2,74ng/mi) in Liquor cerebrospinalis (CSF) and 6,87 ng/mI + 4,05 ng/mI (median: 3,93 ng/mI) in Plasma, were determined in twenty two dogs with broad individual variations.This method is capable of detecting time dependant changes of endomorphin levels, the test may be used as a non-specific screening method for endomorphins in pain models as well as proof of illegal administration of endorphins in the subject of doping or acupuncture stimulation.