Anabolic steroid (nandrolone) treatment during adolescence decreases the number of glucocorticoid and estrogen receptors in adult female rats.

Abstract

The density of thymic glucocorticoid receptors and the density of uterus estrogen receptors (I) decreased significantly in adult female Wistar rats following nandrolone treatment at the age of six and seven weeks. There was no significant alteration of thymic glucocorticoid receptor density in males. Affinity of glucocorticoid and estrogen receptors did not differ from the controls significantly. The results demonstrate that the receptors of immature cells can be imprinted in adolescence similarly to those in the perinatal period and chemical substances capable of binding to the immature receptors can result in prolonged alteration of their binding character. This phenomenon should be taken into consideration especially in the case of nandrolone administration which can be used as a doping substance.