The effect of nandrolone treatment with and without enforced swimming on histological and biochemical changes in the heart and coronary artery of male rats

Abstract

Objective:Chronic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) consumption increases incidence of cardiovascular abnormalities in athletes and mechanisms underlying those abnormalities continue to be investigated. This study examines whether nandrolone consumption induced cardiac and coronary artery wall abnormalities via oxidative stress. It was also designed to determine whether enforced swimming augmented possible cardiotoxic effects of nandrolone in rat heart.Methods:Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control, nandrolone, and nandrolone with enforced swimming. Nandrolone group received 10 mg/kg body weight nandrolone 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Nandrolone group with enforced swimming received the same amount of nandrolone and was forced to swim with excess weight of 20% body weight.Results:After 6 weeks of treatment, results indicated proliferation of heart muscle and coronary smooth muscle cells and lipid peroxidation; significant rise in levels of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, homocysteine (Hcy), apolipoprotein B, low-density lipoprotein, and cholesterol, as well as severe fibrosis in heart tissue and around coronary arteries of nandrolone and nandrolone with enforced swimming groups compared with control group.Conclusion:These findings strongly support idea that nandrolone intake by sedentary rats and exercised rats induced heart abnormality mediated by oxidative stress, which was manifest in increased lipid peroxidation, Hcy, and 8-OHdG in heart tissue.

Nandrolone Decanoate: Use, Abuse and Side Effects

“…Although previous studies verified the association between AAS exposure and high blood pressure, the molecular mechanisms involved in blood pressure increase due to AASs are not fully understood. Some studies, however, have suggested that mechanisms such as changes in sodium balance, degenerative vascular lesions, cardiac hypertrophy, and an unfavorable lipid profile exist [ 80 , 81 ]. Franquni M. and colleagues showed that myocyte hypertrophy and cardiac remodeling (ND related) are related to augmentation of ACE activity and the development of a pro-inflammatory state, and consequent cardiac changes result in the development of hypertension in animals treated with ND [ 62 ].…”

Nandrolone Decanoate Is Prooxidant in the Myocardium of Exercised or Sedentary Rats

“…Prolonged administration of steroids may cause dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex and mono-oxygenase leading to increased generation of ROS. 19 In the work of Germanakis et al 20 there was a decrease in antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. For Chaves and Fortunato et al 21 the use of AAS abolished the exercise-induced protection found that there was a decrease in cardiac cardioprotection through the blockade of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the anabolic groups, and in the trained group without anabolic agent , this fact did not occur.…”

Hormonal Treatment Strategies Tailored to Non-Binary Transgender Individuals

“…Regarding the safety profile of this compound, data are limited by the fact that most observations come from the setting of androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) abuse [16,17], thus their applicability to appropriate medical therapy is limited [18]. In this setting, concerns about cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease risk emerged [19], although associated with the administration of nandrolone at extremely higher dosages [20]. Furthermore, nandrolone use does not seem associated to hepatotoxicity, since, as an injectable oil, it is not subject to first-pass hepatic metabolism.…”