Improvements in body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors and insulin sensitivity with trenbolone in normogonadic rats

Abstract

Trenbolone (TREN) is used for anabolic growth-promotion in over 20 million cattle annually and continues to be misused for aesthetic purposes in humans. The current study investigated TREN's effects on body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors; and its tissue-selective effects on the cardiovascular system, liver and prostate. Male rats (n=12) were implanted with osmotic infusion pumps delivering either cyclodextrin vehicle (CTRL) or 2mg/kg/day TREN for 6 weeks. Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry assessment of body composition; organ wet weights and serum lipid profiles; and insulin sensitivity were assessed. Cardiac ultrasound examinations were performed before in vivo studies assessed myocardial susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Circulating sex hormones and liver enzyme activities; and prostate and liver histology were examined. In 6 weeks, fat mass increased by 34±7% in CTRLs (p<0.01). Fat mass decreased by 37±6% and lean mass increased by 11±4% with TREN (p<0.05). Serum triglycerides, HDL and LDL were reduced by 62%, 57% and 78% (p<0.05) respectively in TREN rats. Histological examination of the prostates from TREN-treated rats indicated benign hyperplasia associated with an increased prostate mass (149% compared to CTRLs, p<0.01). No evidence of adverse cardiac or hepatic effects was observed. In conclusion, improvements in body composition, lipid profile and insulin sensitivity (key risk factors for cardiometabolic disease) were achieved with six-week TREN treatment without evidence of adverse cardiovascular or hepatic effects that are commonly associated with traditional anabolic steroid misuse. Sex hormone suppression and benign prostate hyperplasia were confirmed as adverse effects of the treatment.

The effects of visceral obesity and androgens on bone: trenbolone protects against loss of femoral bone mineral density and structural strength in viscerally obese and testosterone-deficient male rats

“…In contrast to TEST treatment, TREN additionally reduced VAT mass and restored femoral stiffness and ultimate force/strength (F U ) in these animals. The observed differences between TEST and TREN could be ascribed to TREN's previously reported ability to reduce visceral adiposity [26] more effectively than TEST [35].…”

“…Pumps were prepared with VEH (45 % w/v 2β-hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin), TREN (suspended in 45 % w/v 2β-hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin) or TEST (suspended in 45 % w/v 2β-hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin). The dosage delivery rate of each steroid was 2.0 mg kg day −1 in accordance with previous work by ourselves using this delivery method demonstrating a therapeutic effect on body composition [26]. All 2β-hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin suspensions were prepared in Milli-Q H 2 0 and passed through a 0.45-μm filter (Millex, Darmstadt, Germany).…”

“…The animal model we utilised is characterised by diet-induced visceral obesity and orchiectomy-induced testosterone deficiency. An additional objective was to determine the relative effects of androgen replacement therapy in the form of either (1) testosterone or (2) trenbolone (a selective androgen receptor modulator with potent anti-adipogenic effects in VAT [26]) on visceral adiposity, circulating lipids and bone composition, structure and strength in diet-induced visceral obesity and orchiectomy-induced testosterone deficiency. We hypothesised that (1) increased VAT mass and testosterone deficiency would independently cause adverse effects on femoral bone structure and/or strength and (2) trenbolone treatment would reduce visceral adiposity, and consequently rescue femora from these adverse changes, more effectively than testosterone.…”

Trenbolone Improves Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Myocardial Tolerance to Ischemia-Reperfusion in Male Rats With Testosterone-Deficient Metabolic Syndrome

“…Additionally, TREN causes a more potent reduction in retroperitoneal/visceral fat pad mass than TEST in hypogonadic male rats (34,35). More recently, we have shown that TREN improves multiple components of the MetS and improves myocardial tolerance to I-R in normogonadic rats (36).…”

“…Pumps were prepared with vehicle (45% wt/vol 2␤-hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin), TREN (suspended in 45% wt/vol 2␤-hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin), or TEST (suspended in 45% wt/vol 2␤-hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin). The dosage delivery rate of each steroid was 2.0 mg/kg⅐d in accordance with previous work by ourselves using this delivery method and demonstrating a therapeutic effect on body composition (36). All 2␤-hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin suspensions were prepared in Milli-Q H 2 O and passed through a 0.45-m filter (Millex).…”