The Effects of High Doses of Nandrolone Decanoate on Cardiac Muscle Tissue

Abstract

In recent decades, steroid abuse has become very popular and widespread among professional and recreational athletes. The aim of this study was to examine the chronic effects of training combined with high doses of nandrolone decanoate on cardiac muscle tissue. The study included 32 Wistar albino rats divided into 4 groups: control (T-N-), steroid (T-N+), exercisetraining (T+N-) and exercise plus steroid (T+N+) groups. The T+N- and T+N+ group swam for 4 weeks, 1 hour per day, 5 days per week. The N+ (nandrolone positive groups) received nandrolone decanoate (20 mg/kg) once per week, subcutaneously. After 4 weeks of training, the rats were sacrificed. Heart biopsy specimens were routinely fixed and embedded in paraffin. Fivemicrometre thick sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H/E) and Masson-Trichrome dyes. Captured microscopic images were processed by special software for image analysis to quantify results. Our results showed that the combination of nandrolone and training causes left ventricular wall thickening of 30%. Average cardiac muscle cell longitudinal diameter was increased by 6% in the T-N+ group, by 16% in the T+N- group and by 25% in the T+N+ group. The cross sectional muscle cell area was increased in the T+N+ group by 33%. Heart collagen content was increased in the nandrolone group compared to the control group by 261%. Collagen content was decreased in the T+N+ group by 34%. High doses of AAS induced left ventricle hypertrophy and excessive heart collagen deposition.

Structural changes of cardiac tissue in response to L-carnitine supplementation during endurance training in Wistar male rats toxicated by steroid anabolic hormone

“…Given that most parts of the heart wall consist of heart muscle cells, the findings of this study are consistent with the results of measuring cell diameter in a research by Sretenovic et al (2016) who confirm these findings (44). Ren et al (2012) also found that nandrolone induces heart hypertrophy (44). Overall, the present study demonstrates the side effects of androgenic steroid of boldenone on the heart morphology.…”

“…In the present study, reduction of heart damage after heart intoxication was observed after Lcarnitine supplementation combined with exercise activities. Researchers have confirmed that the steroids, with or without training, influence the thickness of the heart with a dose-dependent method, but they have often examined the effects of high doses (from 1 to 10 mg/kg/week) on the heart (9,15,21,22,44). However, due to the lack of similarity in dose of anabolic-androgenic steroids, training programs and duration of experimental treatment in various studies, it is difficult to draw strong conclusions about the real effects of specific doses of steroids on the heart tissue.…”

“…The limitations of this study can be seen in not measuring other factors related to the structure and morphology of the heart tissue. Also since it is that the administration of steroids during training affects the heart in dose-dependent manner (44), therefore, administration of different over dosage physiologic doses can help to better understand the effects of androgenic anabolic steroids. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that boldenone causes damage to the heart muscle tissue, heart muscle cells, necrosis and mild congestion in heart tissue.…”

Morphometric analysis and redox state of the testicles in nandrolone decanoate and swimming treated adult male rats

“…The majority of studies showed that the administration of ААSs leads to the hypertension development [3], hypertrophy of the left ventricle, accumulation of extracellular collagen in both cardiac [4,5] and skeletal muscle [6] and hepatocellular damage [7]. Administration of ААSs has deleterious effects on testicles manifested as structural changes of the seminiferous epithelium [8] and testicular atrophy [9][10][11].…”

Immunohistomorphometric and Hormonal Analysis of the Pituitary Gonadotropic Cells After Application of the Nandrolone Decanoate and Swimming Training in Adult Male Rats

“…Additionally, it is characterized by low hepatotoxicity, although results of previous studies indicated the role of the misuse of AASs in structural and functional changes of the liver (including the hepatocellular carcinoma) (Frankenfeld et al, 2014). Misuse of AASs may also cause left ventricular hypertrophy with a disproportional accumulation of extracellular collagen and consequential fibrosis (Tanno еt al., 2011; Hassan & Kamal, 2013; Sretenovic et al, 2016). Administration of AASs in high doses can cause a certain degree of testicular atrophy (Naraghi et al, 2010; Mohamed & Mohamed, 2015; Takahashi et al, 2004), ultrastructural changes in the testicles (Rocha et al, 2007), and lower circulating testosterone levels but can also affect the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG axis), in the sense of lowering the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and the luteinizing hormone (LH) levels (Nagata et al, 1999; Naraghi et al, 2010; Ferrari et al, 2013; Mohamed & Mohamed, 2015; Shahraki et al, 2015; Takahashi et al, 2004).…”