Use of specific bioluminescent cell lines for the detection of steroid hormone (ant)agonists in meat producing animals

We present stable transformed human mammary cell lines displaying highly inducible steroid receptor-mediated luciferase reporter gene expression. The utilization of a cell-based assay for detection of steroid agonists and antagonists down to 0.3 ng g(-1) is described and its application to the analysis of bovine samples is discussed. In particular, the use of the assays to detect illegal progesterone or androgen treatment has to take into account the presence of natural endogenous hormones. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.