NOTICE TO ALL TRAINERS SCREENING FOR THE USE OF ACTH IN RACING Adrenocorticotropic hormone , commonly called ACTH , is a protein hormone naturally produced in the horse . The function of ACTH is to stimulate and also regulate levels of the steroid hormone cortisol . Commercially available ACTH is a synthetically produced peptide hormone which is high similar in structure to ACTH produced naturally . As a prohibited substance in horseracing the use of synthetic ACTH is most commonly monitored and prosecuted by the increase which is observed the level of naturally produced hydrocortisone . As the hydrocortisone level increases beyond the international threshold , this is prosecuted as a prohibited substance offence . There are also other approaches to detect the use of synthetic ACTH . One of these is based on the fact that synthetic ACTH corresponds to the structure of human ACTH . It can therefore be detected in the horse as the structure of this protein is somewhat different to naturally produced ACTH in the horse . The NHA Laboratory is one of a few racing laboratories which have been active in the research of new approaches for the detection for synthetic administered ACTH in the race horse . During recent years ACTH administration trials were conducted on horses as part of such research at our Laboratory . This research was formally presented at an international conference for horse racing chemists and veterinarians . It must be noted that at least one web based sales company is selling a product which purport to contain the biochemically active molecule of ACTH . Several racing laboratories have already analysed this preparation . Such analysis however indicated that the active peptide ACTH is either not contained or is only contained in a very low concentration , certainly too low to effect the horse .
NOTICE TO ALL TRAINERS THE SCREENING FOR THE FORBIDDEN SUBSTANCES ERYTHOPOIETIN ( EPO ) AND GROWTH HORMONE ( GH ) Erythropoietin ( EPO ) is natural occurring protein hormone which has the function to increase red blood cell production in the horse . Natural EPO can be supplemented by the administration of several different forms of human EPO to the horse . At the NHA Laboratory the screening of human EPO in horse specimens is being undertaken employing a sophisticated immuno-detection screening methodology which is widely reported as the most accurate and sensitive currently available to the racing industry . A highly attractive aspect about this is the wide range of EPO types which are covered , as was been confirmed by EPO administration and research studies at racing laboratories . Included in the effective coverage of the screen is conventional EPO forms such as Epogen , Eprex , Epoetin-alpha , Epoetinbeta and Procrit and even longer acting EPO types called darbepoetin alfa ( Aranesp , DPO ) and CERA ( PEG Epoetin-beta , MirCERA ). Growth Hormone ( GH ) refers to a natural hormone within the horse which is anabolic and which has the effect to enhance cell growth and cell recovery . In addition to this natural occurring equine GH there are a range of synthetic GH ’ s from several animal species which are active in the horse . These include a modified form of equine GH , bovine ( cattle ) GH and porcine ( pig ) GH . The NHA Laboratory employs a sensitive immune-detection screening approach which was shown effective in detecting the use these hormones by means of the measurement of the amount of the messenger protein “ IGF-1 ”. The screening methodology measures the IGF-1 concentration against the level which is normal in the horse and can also detect the use of and some IGF-1 analogues and synthetic IGF-1 forms . The NHA Laboratory was a few years ago , in partnership with a few other countries , instrumental in conducting important research into suitable screening methodologies and validating these screening approaches . The NHA recognises the threat which these Class 1 , Forbidden Substances pose to the integrity of racing and the welfare of the horse and for this reason these
• Volume 19 no 1 • February 2017 • 11