Table 2 Effects of ingested or injected ecdysteroids on growth of various vertebrate species (in red, reference to patents).

Species Ecdysteroids Daily dose Mode of administration Duration of treatments (days) Effects References Mice 20E, Cyas 0.005-0.1 mg per os 90 Increased protein synthesis in liver and kidney Hikino et al., 1969 Mice Turk 5 mg/kg i.p.   Increased liver protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro Syrov et al., 1978 Mice (juveniles and adults) 20E 0.1, 0.5, 1 mg i.p. 30 Increased growth of juvenile females and of adults of both sexes Stopka et al., 1999 Rats (29-day old) E, 20E, PonA 2, 10, 50 mg per os 5 No effect on growth rate Matsuda et al., 1970 Rats (castrated juveniles) VitE, Turk 0.5-10 mg/kg i.p. 10 Increased muscle and liver weight Syrov and Kurmukov, 1975a,b No androgenic effect Syrov et al., 1975b Rats (juveniles and adults) 20E 5 mg/kg per os 7 Increased muscle and liver weight Syrov and Kurmukov, 1976c No androgenic effect Rats (juveniles, adults and ovariecto-mized juveniles) 20E 5 mg/kg i.p. 7 Increased body weight and growth of liver, kidneys, muscles Syrov et al., 1981a Sheep E 0.02 mg/kg per os, or i.v. 35-150 Increased growth rate of body and of wool Purser and Baker, 1994 Pigs 20E 0.2-0.4 mg/kg per os 30 Increased growth and higher nitrogen retention Krátky et al., 1997 Japanese quails 20E 20, 100, 500 mg/kg of food per os 28 Increased growth Sláma et al., 1996

Cyas: cyasterone; E: ecdysone; 20E: 20-hydroxyecdysone; PonA: ponasterone A; Turk: turkesterone; VitE: viticosterone E i.p. : intraperitoneal injection ; i.v.: intraveinous injection.