Changes in the hepatic and renal structure and function after a growth promoter boldenone injection in rabbits

Abstract

<jats:p>Boldenone is an androgenic steroid that improves the growth and food conversion in food producing animals. In most countries worldwide, this anabolic steroid is forbidden for meat production. Recently, it is used by bodybuilders in both off-season and pre-contest, where it is well known for increasing vascularity while preparing for a bodybuilding contest. Therefore, our study was designed to investigate the possible effect of using growth promoter boldenone undecylenate on the rabbit liver and kidney structure and functions. Thirty-two adult New Zealand rabbits were divided into four groups. Control group includes animals that injected intramuscularly with olive oil and dissected after 3 weeks. Three experimental groups include animals that receive one, two and three intramuscular injections of 5 mg/kg body weight boldenone, respectively and dissected after 3, 6 and 9 weeks respectively, where the interval of each dose of boldenone was three weeks. Intramuscular injection of rabbits with boldenone increased the serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), urea and creatinine compared with the control group. We also found significant increases in the total protein, total lipid, nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver and kidney tissues compared with the control group. Intramuscular injection of rabbits with boldenone exhibited mild to severe histopathological lesions in liver tissue as hepatocellular vacuolation in the centrilobular region and sinusoids and in the kidney, the renal glomerulei had completely lost their typical shape with the appearance of some vacuoles of different shapes and sizes with markedly congested sinusoidal and dilated blood vessels. These findings suggest that misuse of growth promoter boldenone undecylenate may contribute to continuous damage of the hepatic and renal function and structure that may lead to a progressive hepatic and renal diseases, so people should be careful if they want to use such steroids to enhance their strength and endurance.</jats:p>

Boldenone-induced apoptotic, structural, and functional alterations in the liver of rabbits

“…Our results are in agreement with previous studies (El-Moghazy et al, 2012;Tousson et al, 2013). Moreover, similar results were recorded on AAS abuse (Urhausen et al, 2003).…”

“…The histopathological examination of liver of BOL group revealed coagulative necrosis with lymphocytic infiltration, congestion of hepatic blood vessels, hydropic degeneration and vacuolations of hepatocytes, as well as activation of apoptosis and numerous apoptotic bodies throughout the hepatic parenchyma. These findings are in agreement with those of El-Moghazy et al (2012) who reported that intramuscular injection of BOL to rabbits has a marked adverse effect on hepatic structure. Similar changes in hepatic tissue of cattle have been reported by Groot and Biolatti (2004).…”

Effect of Lycopene in Amelioration of Testicular and Renal Toxicity Induced by Boldenone Undecylenate in Male Albino Rats

“…The results of the present study revealed marked oxidative stress in testis and kidney tissues after Bol injection compared to normal control. This is consistent with the previous studies who reported that, the anabolic androgenic steroids induced oxidative stress as indicated by elevation of serum MDA level and alterations in the liver and kidney antioxidant defense systems (21,22). The oxidative stress induced by boldenone injection could explain the increased DNA fragmentation as compared to control group.…”

Star anise extracts modulation of reproductive parameters, fertility potential and DNA fragmentation induced by growth promoter Equigan in rat testes

“…Anabolic-androgenic steroids are defined as synthetic derivatives of the endogenous sex hormone testosterone that plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissue (such as the testis and prostate) as well as in puberty, sexual behavior, spermatogenesis and plays promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle, bone mass and hair growth (Mitchell et al, 2009;Balthazart, Ball, 2010;Mohammed et al, 2016). Anabolic steroids are forbidden for meat production and human use in KAS, and most countries worldwide due to their undesirable effects included blood and cardiovascular disorders (Santos et al, 2006;Tousson et al, 2016;Waljee et al, 2016), liver dysfunction (Van Amsterdam et al, 2010;Barakat et al, 2015), kidney disease (Barakat et al, 2015), tendon damage (Battista, Combs, Warne, 2003), testicular problems (Tousson et al, 2012;El-Masry et al, 2017), psychiatric and behavioural disorders in both sexes (Salas-Ramirez, Montalto, Sisk, 2010), as well as other problems on the human body (Saleh, Waded, 2014).…”