Nandrolone Use During Adolescence Increases Cocaine Sensitization and Impairs Reproductive Function in Adult Female Rats

Abstract

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are known to affect mood and motivational behaviors. One of the AAS most commonly used by young adults is nandrolone. In 2017, prevalence of cocaine use in this population was approximately 33% compared to 4.9% in the rest of this population. Cocaine and AAS increase risk taking behaviors. However, the link between the use of AAS during adolescence and propensity to use other drugs of abuse has not been clearly established. In this study, adolescent female rats were administered nandrolone decanoate (20mg/kg/sc) or vehicle for 10 successive days starting on day 28, the rats were then divided into 4 groups; Oil‐Saline, ND‐Saline, Oil‐cocaine and ND‐cocaine. Beginning on day 40, they were tested for locomotor sensitization to cocaine. From days 1–5 and at days 13 and 23 rats received an injection of cocaine (15 mg/kg/ip). Their locomotor response to cocaine was measured at days 1, 5, 13 and 23. Our data show that nandrolone enhances cocaine sensitization in female rats. In ovarian tissue, it reduced weight and induced cysts formation. These data show that exposure to supra‐physiological levels of androgens during adolescence modifies the brain circuitry that regulates addictive behaviors increasing the psychoactive properties of cocaine. AAS also have detrimental effects on the female reproductive system and on fertility.Support or Funding InformationFinancial assistance was provided by the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) of NSF through the Partnerships for Research and Education (PIRE) program (OISE #1545803).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.