Anabolic steroid associated to physical training induces deleterious cardiac effects

Nandrolone Decanoate and Swimming Affects Cardiodynamic and Morphometric Parameters in the Isolated Rat Heart

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to show the effects of swimming and nandrolone administration on cardiodynamic and morphometric parameters of the isolated rat heart. (2) The study included 72 Wistar rats, divided into three groups, scheduled to be sacrificed after the second, third, and fourth week. Each group was divided into four subgroups: control (T-N-), nandrolone (T-N+), swimming training (T+N-), and swimming training plus nandrolone (T+N+) group. The rats from T+N- and T+N+ swam 1 h/day, 5 days/week while ones from T-N+ and T+N+ received weekly nandrolone decanoate (20 mg/kg). The isolated hearts were perfused according to the Langendorff technique and measured parameters: dp/dt max/min, SLVP, DLVP, heart rate, and coronary flow. Hearts were fixed and stained with H/E and Masson trichrome dyes. (3) dp/dt max and dp/dt min were increased in the T-N+ group at higher perfusion pressure compared to the T-N- group. SLVP and DLVP were increased in all groups after the 4th week. Collagen content was increased in T-N+ by 403% and in T+N+ by 357% groups, while it was decreased in T+N- compared to the control after 4th week. (4) Conclusions: Nandrolone alone or combined with swimming had a deleterious effect on myocardial function and perfusion.

Interaction of high-intensity endurance exercise and nandrolone on cardiac remodeling: role of adipo-cardiac axis

OBJECTIVES

Given the cardiac pathological remodeling following to anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) consumption, we examined the effect of chronic administration of nandrolone decanoate with high-intensity endurance exercise on the left ventricular hypertrophy index, levels of hydroxyproline, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), adiponectin (APN) and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) expression in rats' hearts.

METHODS

The male Wistar rats randomly divided to six groups included the control (CTL), exercise (Ex), nandrolone (Nan), vehicle (Arach), trained vehicle (Ex + Arach), and trained nandrolone (Ex + Nan) groups that were treated for eight weeks.

RESULTS

Nandrolone consumption significantly enhanced the hypertrophy index (p<0.05) and exercise intensified this effect. It also increased the level of cardiac hydroxyproline (p<0.001), however exercise completely masked this effect. The values of TNF-α protein and AdipoR1 protein significantly increased in trained nandrolone-treated (Ex + Nan) group in comparison with CTL group (p<0.05), however, did not show significant alteration in Nan or Ex groups. High-intensity endurance exercise significantly enhanced the AdipoR2 protein (p<0.05), but, co-administration of nandrolone with exercise prevented this effect. The mRNA expression of AdipoR1 significantly reduced in the animals that received nandrolone for eight weeks and exercise recovered this effect (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite an additive effect of high-intensity endurance exercise plus nandrolone on TNF-α level, their effects on hydroxyproline and APN receptors expression is incompatible in heart of rat. It is suggests a part of beneficial regulatory role of endurance exercise against nandrolone induced heart remodeling may apply through modulation of APN system.

Nandrolone Decanoate: Use, Abuse and Side Effects

Background and Objectives: Androgens play a significant role in the development of male reproductive organs. The clinical use of synthetic testosterone derivatives, such as nandrolone, is focused on maximizing the anabolic effects and minimizing the androgenic ones. Class II anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), including nandrolone, are rapidly becoming a widespread group of drugs used both clinically and illicitly. The illicit use of AAS is diffused among adolescent and bodybuilders because of their anabolic proprieties and their capacity to increase tolerance to exercise. This systematic review aims to focus on side effects related to illicit AAS abuse, evaluating the scientific literature in order to underline the most frequent side effects on AAS abusers’ bodies. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of the scientific literature was performed using the PubMed database and the keywords “nandrolone decanoate”. The inclusion criteria for articles or abstracts were English language and the presence of the following words: “abuse” or “adverse effects”. After applying the exclusion and inclusion criteria, from a total of 766 articles, only 148 were considered eligible for the study. Results: The most reported adverse effects (found in more than 5% of the studies) were endocrine effects (18 studies, 42%), such as virilization, gynecomastia, hormonal disorders, dyslipidemia, genital alterations, and infertility; cardiovascular dysfunctions (six studies, 14%) such as vascular damage, coagulation disorders, and arteriosus hypertension; skin disorders (five studies, 12%) such as pricking, acne, and skin spots; psychiatric and mood disorders (four studies, 9%) such as aggressiveness, sleep disorders and anxiety; musculoskeletal disorders (two studies, 5%), excretory disorders (two studies, 5%), and gastrointestinal disorders (two studies, 5%). Conclusions: Based on the result of our study, the most common adverse effects secondary to the abuse of nandrolone decanoate (ND) involve the endocrine, cardiovascular, skin, and psychiatric systems. These data could prove useful to healthcare professionals in both sports and clinical settings.

Ischemic Preconditioning Efficacy Following Anabolic Steroid Usage: A Clear Difference Between Sedentary and Exercise-Trained Rat Hearts

Previous studies show that anabolic steroids impair innate cardioprotective mechanisms. Here, we investigated the effect of supraphysiological doses of nandrolone on ischemic preconditioning (IPC) as a potent cardioprotective tool against ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury in rat hearts. Male Wistar rats in two experimental settings of sedentary and exercise-trained (60 min/day swimming, 5 days/week, for 8 weeks) were either pretreated with intramuscular injections of arachis oil (Arach, n = 16) as vehicle or nandrolone decanoate (ND, n = 8), 10 mg/kg/week, for 8 weeks. At the end, the hearts were excised and perfused in a Langendorff system. Then, the vehicle-treated hearts subdivided into the IR (30 min of LAD coronary artery occlusion and 120 min reperfusion, n = 8) and IPC (three cycles of 3-min ischemia and 3-min reperfusion before test ischemia, n = 8) groups and nandrolone-treated hearts served as ND + IPC (nandrolone pretreatment before IR and IPC protocols, n = 8) group. Post-ischemic cardiac function and infarct size were assessed. Reperfusion arrhythmias were analyzed using a standard scoring system. In sedentary hearts, ND slightly increased heart-to-body weight ratio and increased baseline cardiac contractile function. In trained hearts, ND markedly increased heart-to-body weight ratio which was also associated with enhanced baseline cardiac function. ND pretreatment enhanced protective effects of IPC in sedentary group; however, abolished these effects in exercise-trained group. The arrhythmia score was not significantly different between nandrolone-treated groups vs. respective preconditioned groups. Our findings show that ND impairs IPC-induced cardioprotection in exercise-trained rat hearts. Cardiac hypertrophy seems to play a crucial role in this response.

NANDROLONE DECANOATE IS PROOXIDANT IN THE MYOCARDIUM OF EXERCISED OR SEDENTARY RATS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Nandrolone decanoate is a synthetic testosterone analogue considered one of the most widely used anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) among adolescents and athletes. Chronic ingestion of AAS increases the incidence of cardiovascular abnormalities in athletes, but the mechanism that causes these changes remains unknown. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to verify the possible effects of the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) on the morphology and oxidative metabolism of the heart in exercised and sedentary rats. Methods: This is a comparative prospective level II study. Twenty-four Wistar rats were distributed in groups that performed voluntary (TG) and sedentary (SG) running exercises, and used AAS: the Anabolic Training Group (ATG), and the Anabolic Sedentary Group (ASG). During the three months of the running protocol, the animals received an intramuscular injection of 5 mg/kg b.p. of AAS. After the training period, the rats were euthanized and the hearts were removed for evaluation of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity, and for morphometric analysis. Results: The anabolic groups, ASG (0.3072 ± 0.0531) and ATG (0.2732 ± 0.0413), presented higher lipid peroxidation when compared to the non-anabolic groups SG (0.1705 ± 0.0224) and TG (0.1785 ± 0.0340). Conclusion: There was no change in total antioxidant capacity or in the thickness of the interventricular septum and left ventricular wall. Thus, the use of anabolic androgenic steroids did not cause morphological changes in the myocardium. However it did alter the oxidative metabolism. It was also verified that aerobic exercise had no protective effect against lipid peroxidation in the myocardium caused by the use of AAS. Level of evidence II; Prospective comparative study.

The impact of nandrolone decanoate abuse on experimental animal model: Hormonal and biochemical assessment

Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is one of the most commonly abused anabolic androgenic steroids compounds in the world owing to its ability to improve physical performance but its abuse is associated with several adverse effects. The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of recommended and overdose of nandrolone decanoate (ND) for short and long term on the alterations of biochemical markers related to kidney, liver, adrenal, thyroid gland functions and oxidant and antioxidant activities. Sixty male rats were randomly assigned into two major groups. The first was treated with ND for 6 weeks and the second was treated with same drug for 12 weeks. Each of these groups was further subdivided into three sub groups: 1-Control (untreated rats), 2- Rats intraperitoneally injected with ND 3 mg/kg weekly, 3- Rats intraperitoneally injected with ND 15 mg/kg weekly. Administration of high ND dose for either short or long term significantly elevated kidney function biomarkers, liver enzymes both in serum, cytosol and mitochondria, insignificantly increased thyroid function, significantly increased adrenal function while, decreased ACTH. Moreover, oxidative stress biomarkers were significantly upregulated associated with depression in antioxidants activities. Administration of high ND dose for either short or long term as well as the repeated use of recommended ND dose for long term proved to have harmful effects manifested in impairing the functions of kidneys, liver, thyroid and adrenal glands as well as oxidant antioxidant balance.

A Mechanistic and Pathophysiological Approach for Stroke Associated with Drugs of Abuse

Drugs of abuse are associated with stroke, especially in young individuals. The major classes of drugs linked to stroke are cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, morphine, cannabis, and new synthetic cannabinoids, along with androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs). Both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke have been reported due to drug abuse. Several common mechanisms have been identified, such as arrhythmias and cardioembolism, hypoxia, vascular toxicity, vascular spasm and effects on the thrombotic mechanism, as causes for ischemic stroke. For hemorrhagic stroke, acute hypertension, aneurysm formation/rupture and angiitis-like changes have been implicated. In AAS abuse, the effect of blood pressure is rather substance specific, whereas increased erythropoiesis usually leads to thromboembolism. Transient vasospasm, caused by synthetic cannabinoids, could lead to ischemic stroke. Opiates often cause infective endocarditis, resulting in ischemic stroke and hypereosinophilia accompanied by pyogenic arthritis, provoking hemorrhagic stroke. Genetic variants are linked to increased risk for stroke in cocaine abuse. The fact that case reports on cannabis-induced stroke usually refer to the young population is very alarming.

Exercise Training Restores Cardiac MicroRNA-1 and MicroRNA-29c to Nonpathological Levels in Obese Rats

We previously reported that aerobic exercise training (AET) consisted of 10 weeks of 60-min swimming sessions, and 5 days/week AET counteracts CH in obesity. Here, we evaluated the role of microRNAs and their target genes that are involved in heart collagen deposition and calcium signaling, as well as the cardiac remodeling induced by AET in obese Zucker rats. Among the four experimental Zucker groups: control lean rats (LZR), control obese rats (OZR), trained lean rats (LZR + TR), and trained obese rats (OZR + TR), heart weight was greater in the OZR than in the LZR group due to increased cardiac intramuscular fat and collagen. AET seems to exert a protective role in normalizing the heart weight in the OZR + TR group. Cardiac microRNA-29c expression was decreased in OZR compared with the LZR group, paralleled by an increase in the collagen volumetric fraction (CVF). MicroRNA-1 expression was upregulated while the expression of its target gene NCX1 was decreased in OZR compared with the LZR group. Interestingly, AET restored cardiac microRNA-1 to nonpathological levels in the OZR-TR group. Our findings suggest that AET could be used as a nonpharmacological therapy for the reversal of pathological cardiac remodeling and cardiac dysfunction in obesity.

Use of androgenic anabolic steroids by patients under treatment for substance use disorder: case series

ABSTRACT The present study reports several case studies about the use of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) by patients under treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). Ten subjects were interviewed, two women and eight men, ranging from 25 to 43 years old. Regarding treatment regime, eight subjects were inpatients and two, outpatients. ASSIST-WHO and MINI-SUD scales and a semi-structured interview were used as research instruments. Seven subjects reported the use of AAS within fewer than twelve months from the interview date. Mental health professionals did not previously question none of the subjects were about the use of AAS. We discuss the efficacy of the chosen instruments to assess AAS use.

Acute effects of nandrolone decanoate on cardiodynamic parameters in isolated rat heart

Despite worldwide use of anabolic steroids in last decades, there is still contradictory information about their acute influence on myocardium. The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects of nandrolone decanoate (ND) on cardiodynamics and coronary flow in isolated rat heart. The hearts of male Wistar albino rats (n = 48, 12 per group, age 8 weeks, body mass 180-200 g) were excised and perfused according to the Langendorff technique at gradually increased coronary perfusion pressures (40-120 cmH₂O). After the control sets of experiments, the hearts in different groups were perfused with different doses of ND (1, 10, or 100 μmol/L separately). Using a sensor placed in the left ventricle, we registered maximum and minimum rate of pressure development in the left ventricle (dP/dt_max and dP/dt_min), systolic and diastolic left ventricular pressure (SLVP and DLVP), and heart rate (HR). Coronary flow (CF) was measured flowmetrically. The results clearly show the depression in cardiac function caused by higher doses of ND. The highest concentration of ND (100 μmol/L) induced the most deleterious impact on the myocardial function and perfusion of the heart (coronary circulation), which could be of clinical significance.

Relationship between male hormonal status, Bezold–Jarisch reflex function, and ACE activity (cardiac and plasmatic)

The negative relationship between androgens and the Bezold–Jarisch reflex (BJR) has been demonstrated, but no studies evaluated the physiological influence of testosterone on this reflex. We evaluated the influence of male rat castration on the BJR, cardiac morphometric parameters, and the plasmatic and the cardiac angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity. After castration (CAS), the rats were divided into 24 and 72 h (CAS24H, CAS72H), and 7 and 21 days (CAS7D, CAS21D) groups. The BJR was studied by administering increasing doses of phenylbiguanide (PBG; 1.5–24 μg/kg) at different times after castration. Castration results in the following: (i) reduction in testosterone levels (SHAM: 238.7 ± 15.1; CAS24H: 9.0 ± 0.5; CAS72H: 6.7 ± 0.4; CAS7D: 5.2 ± 0.2; and CAS21D: 2.2 ± 0.3 ng/dL; p < 0.05); (ii) no changes in 17β-estradiol; (iii) a reduced BJR sensitivity (PBG 6 μg/kg; SHAM: 77 ± 7; CAS24H: 63 ± 10; CAS72H: 55 ± 6; CAS7D: 54 ± 4; and CAS21D: 35 ± 2%; p < 0.01); (iv) a decrease in cardiac (SHAM: 107 ± 6; CAS24H: 92 ± 2; CAS72H: 82 ± 3; CAS7D: 54 ± 3; and CAS21D: 43 ± 4%; p < 0.05) and plasmatic (SHAM: 135 ± 8; CAS24H: 102 ± 5; CAS72H: 99 ± 3; CAS7D: 89 ± 4; and CAS21D: 56 ± 6%; p < 0.05) ACE activity. No changes were observed in cardiac morphometry and hemodynamic parameters. Therefore, castration leads to decrease in testosterone levels as early as 24 h, reduction in ACE activity and loss of BJR sensitivity 7 days after castration. The loss of BJR sensitivity was not related to cardiac morphometric changes and cardiovascular hemodynamics.

Testosterone induces apoptosis in cardiomyocytes by increasing proapoptotic signaling involving tumor necrosis factor-α and renin angiotensin system

Anabolic androgenic steroids lead to cardiac complications and have been shown to exhibit proapoptotic effects in cardiac cells; however, the mechanism involved in those effects is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess whether apoptosis and the activation of caspase-3 (Casp-3) induced by testosterone in high concentrations involves increments in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in cardiomyocytes (H9c2) cell cultures. Cardiomyocytes were treated with testosterone (5 × 10−6 mol/L), doxorubicin (9.2 × 10−6 mol/L), testosterone + etanercept (Eta; 6.67 × 10−5 mol/L), testosterone + losartan (Los; 10−7 mol/L), and testosterone + AC-DEVD-CHO (10−5 mol/L; Casp-3 inhibitor). Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and by the proteolytic activity of Casp-3. We demonstrated that incubation of H9c2 cells for 48 h with testosterone causes the apoptotic death of 60–70% of the cells and co-treatments with Eta, Los, or AC-DEVD-CHO reduced this effect. Testosterone also induces apoptosis (concentration dependent) and increases the proteolytic activity of Casp-3, which were reduced by co-treatments. TNF-α and ACE activities were elevated by testosterone treatment, while co-treatment with Los and Eta reduced these effects. We concluded that an interaction between testosterone, angiotensin II, and TNF-α induced apoptosis and Casp-3 activity in cultured cardiomyocytes, which contributed to the reduced viability of these cells induced by testosterone in toxic concentrations.

The anabolic androgenic steroid nandrolone decanoate disrupts redox homeostasis in liver, heart and kidney of male Wistar rats

The abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) may cause side effects in several tissues. Oxidative stress is linked to the pathophysiology of most of these alterations, being involved in fibrosis, cellular proliferation, tumorigenesis, amongst others. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of supraphysiological doses of nandrolone decanoate (DECA) on the redox balance of liver, heart and kidney. Wistar male rats were treated with intramuscular injections of vehicle or DECA (1 mg.100 g⁻¹ body weight) once a week for 8 weeks. The activity and mRNA levels of NADPH Oxidase (NOX), and the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the reduced thiol and carbonyl residue proteins, were measured in liver, heart and kidney. DECA treatment increased NOX activity in heart and liver, but NOX2 mRNA levels were only increased in heart. Liver catalase and SOD activities were decreased in the DECA-treated group, but only catalase activity was decreased in the kidney. No differences were detected in GPx activity. Thiol residues were decreased in the liver and kidney of treated animals in comparison to the control group, while carbonyl residues were increased in the kidney after the treatment. Taken together, our results show that chronically administered DECA is able to disrupt the cellular redox balance, leading to an oxidative stress state.

Adverse cardiovascular effects from the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids as ergogenic resources

This review evaluates the documented cardiovascular functioning among anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users. AAS users manifest a reduction in HDL cholesterol, increased inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress. Strong evidence associating AAS use with blood pressure at hypertensive levels, as well as hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction has also been reported. Both epidemiological and autopsy studies attest the relationship between AAS use and early mortality. The review's limitations are noted.

AT1 and aldosterone receptors blockade prevents the chronic effect of nandrolone on the exercise-induced cardioprotection in perfused rat heart subjected to ischemia and reperfusion

PURPOSE

Myocardial tolerance to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is improved by exercise training, but this cardioprotection is impaired by the chronic use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). The present study evaluated whether blockade of angiotensin II receptor (AT1-R) with losartan and aldosterone receptor (mineralocorticoid receptor, MR) with spironolactone could prevent the deleterious effect of AAS on the exercise-induced cardioprotection.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Male Wistar rats were exercised and treated with either vehicle, nandrolone decanoate (10 mg/kg/week i.m.) or the same dose of nandrolone plus losartan or spironolactone (20 mg/kg/day orally) for 8 weeks. Langendorff-perfused hearts were subjected to I/R and evaluated for the postischaemic recovery of left ventricle (LV) function and infarct size. mRNA and protein expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and KATP channels were determined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Postischaemic recovery of LV function was better and infarct size was smaller in the exercised rat hearts than in the sedentary rat hearts. Nandrolone impaired the exercise-induced cardioprotection, but this effect was prevented by losartan (AT1-R antagonist) and spironolactone (MR antagonist) treatments. Myocardial AT1-R and MR expression levels were increased, and the expression of the KATP channel subunits SUR2a and Kir6.1 was decreased and Kir6.2 increased in the nandrolone-treated rat hearts. The nandrolone-induced changes of AT1-R, MR, and KATP subunits expression was normalized by the losartan and spironolactone treatments.

CONCLUSION

The chronic nandrolone treatment impairs the exercise-induced cardioprotection against ischaemia/reperfusion injury by activating the cardiac renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and downregulating KATP channel expression.

Prohormone supplement 3β-hydroxy-5α-androst-1-en-17-one enhances resistance training gains but impairs user health

Prohormone supplements (PS) are recognized not to impart anabolic or ergogenic effects in men, but the research supporting these conclusions is dated. The Anabolic Steroid Control Act was amended in 2004 to classify androstenedione and 17 additional anabolic compounds as controlled substances. The viability of PS that entered the market after that time have not been evaluated. Seventeen resistance-trained men (23 ± 1 yr; 13.1 ± 1.5% body fat) were randomly assigned to receive either 330 mg/day of 3β-hydroxy-5α-androst-1-en-17-one (Prohormone; n = 9) or sugar (Placebo; n = 8) per os and complete a 4-wk (16 session) structured resistance-training program. Body composition, muscular strength, circulating lipids, and markers of liver and kidney dysfunction were assessed at study onset and termination. Prohormone increased lean body mass by 6.3 ± 1.2%, decreased fat body mass by 24.6 ± 7.1%, and increased their back squat one repetition maximum and competition total by 14.3 ± 1.5 and 12.8 ± 1.1%, respectively. These improvements exceeded ( P < 0.05) Placebo, which increased lean body mass by 0.5 ± 0.8%, reduced fat body mass by 9.5 ± 3.6%, and increased back squat one repetition maximum and competition total by 5.7 ± 1.7 and 5.9 ± 1.7%, respectively. Prohormone also experienced multiple adverse effects. These included a 38.7 ± 4.0% reduction in HDL ( P < 0.01), a 32.8 ± 15.05% elevation in LDL ( P < 0.01), and elevations of 120.0 ± 22.6 and 77.4 ± 12.0% in LDL-to-HDL and cholesterol-to-HDL ratios, respectively (both P < 0.01). Prohormone also exhibited elevations in serum creatinine (19.6 ± 4.3%; P < 0.01) and aspartate transaminase (113.8 ± 61.1%; P = 0.05), as well as reductions in serum albumin (5.1 ± 1.9%; P = 0.04), alkaline phosphatase (16.4 ± 4.7%; P = 0.04), and glomerular filtration rate (18.0 ± 3.3%; P = 0.04). None of these values changed (all P > 0.05) in Placebo. The oral PS 3β-hydroxy-5α-androst-1-en-17-one improves body composition and muscular strength. However, these changes come at a significant cost. Cardiovascular health and liver function are particularly compromised. Given these findings, we feel the harm associated with this particular PS outweighs any potential benefit.

Treadmill exercise training prevents myocardial mechanical dysfunction induced by androgenic-anabolic steroid treatment in rats

Elevated concentrations of testosterone and its synthetic analogs may induce changes in cardiovascular function. However, the effects of the combination of anabolic/androgenic steroid (AAS) treatment and exercise training on systolic and diastolic cardiac function are poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of low-dose steroid treatment (stanozolol) on cardiac contractile parameters when this steroid treatment was combined with exercise training in rats and the effects of chronic steroid treatment on the Frank-Starling (length-tension curves) relationship. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: U (untrained), US (untrained and treated with stanozolol 5 mg/kg/week), T (trained, 16 m/min/1 h) and TS (trained and treated with stanozolol 5 mg/kg/week). Continuous exercise training was conducted 5 days/week for 8 consecutive weeks. The speed of the treadmill was gradually increased to a final setting of 16 m/min/1 h. Experiments were divided into two independent series: 1) central hemodynamic analysis for mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and cardiac output (CO) measurements and 2) isolated papillary muscle preparation in Krebs solution. Stanozolol treatment significantly increased the MAP and the heart size in untrained and trained rats (U 113±2; T 106±2; US 138±8 and TS 130±7 mmHg). Furthermore, stanozolol significantly decreased developed tension and dT/dt (maximal and minimal) in U rats. However, the developed tension was completely restored by training. The Frank/Starling relationship was impaired in rats treated with stanozolol; however, again, training completely restored diastolic function. Taken together, the present data suggest that AAS treatment is able to decrease cardiac performance (systolic and diastolic functions). The combination of stanozolol and physical training improved cardiac performance, including diastolic and systolic functions, independent of changes in central hemodynamic parameters. Therefore, changes in ventricular myocyte calcium transients may play a cardioprotective role.

Effects of nandrolone and resistance training on the blood pressure, cardiac electrophysiology, and expression of atrial β-adrenergic receptors

AIMS

This study was performed to assess isolated and combined effects of nandrolone and resistance training on the blood pressure, cardiac electrophysiology, and expression of the β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors in the heart of rats.

MAIN METHODS

Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups and submitted to a 6-week treatment with nandrolone and/or resistance training. Cardiac hypertrophy was accessed by the ratio of heart weight to the final body weight. Blood pressure was determined by a computerized tail-cuff system. Electrocardiography analyses were performed. Western blotting was used to access the protein levels of the β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors in the right atrium and left ventricle.

KEY FINDINGS

Both resistance training and nandrolone induced cardiac hypertrophy. Nandrolone increased systolic blood pressure depending on the treatment time. Resistance training decreased systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure, as well as induced resting bradycardia. Nandrolone prolonged the QTc interval for both trained and non-trained groups when they were compared to their respective vehicle-treated one. Nandrolone increased the expression of β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors in the right atrium for both trained and non-trained groups when they were compared to their respective vehicle-treated one.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study indicated that nandrolone, associated or not with resistance training increases blood pressure depending on the treatment time, induces prolongation of the QTc interval, and increases the expression of β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors in the cardiac right atrium, but not in the left ventricle.

Nandrolone decanoate determines cardiac remodelling and injury by an imbalance in cardiac inflammatory cytokines and ACE activity, blunting of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex, resulting in the development of hypertension

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of nandrolone (ND) on cardiac inflammatory cytokines, ACE activity, troponin I, and the sensitivity of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex (BJR). Male Wistar rats were administered either ND (20 mg/kg; DECA) or vehicle (control animals; CONT) for 4 weeks. BJR was analyzed by measuring the bradycardia and hypotension responses elicited by serotonin administration (2-32 μg/kg). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was assessed and myocyte hypertrophy was determined by the heart weight/body weight ratio and by morphometric analysis. Matrix collagen deposition was assessed by histological analysis of the picrosirius red-stained samples. Mesenteric vascular reactivity was performed and central venous pressure (CVP) evaluated. Cardiac inflammatory cytokine levels and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity were studied as well the biomarker of cardiac lesion, troponin I. DECA group showed enhancement of matrix type I collagen deposition (p < 0.01) and cardiac ACE activity (p < 0.01) compared with the CONT. Interleukin (IL)-10 was reduced (p < 0.01) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6; p < 0.01) were increased in the DECA group compared with CONT. Cardiac injury was observed in the DECA group shown by the reduction in cardiac troponin I (p < 0.01) compared with the CONT group. Animals in the DECA group also developed myocyte hypertrophy and reduction of BJR sensitivity. The MAP of animals treated with ND reached hypertensive levels (p < 0.01; compared with CONT). No changes in CVP and vascular reactivity were observed in both experimental groups. We conclude that high doses of ND elicit cardiotoxic effects with cardiac remodelling and injury. Cardiac changes reduce the BJR sensitivity. Together, these abnormalities contributed to the development of hypertension in animals in the DECA group.