Androgen effect on body weight and behaviour of male and female rats: novel insight on the clinical value.

Abstract

Androgenic-anabolic steroids (AASs) are synthetic derivative forms of the hormone testosterone. Sustanon® 250 solution for injection is one of those AASs that is used for low hormone levels and is self-administered for recreational purposes. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of sustanon on the body weight of male and female rats. Animals were injected different doses of sustanon (vehicle, 1, 3.2, 10, 32 and 100mg/kg, I.M., once/week, for 6weeks), and the weights for each animal were obtained. The rats were observed for agitated/aggressive behaviours every other day. In the present study, sustanon injections at 1, 3.2, 10, 32 and 100mg/kg treatments did not alter body weight in male rats compared to the control group. However, moderately high and supraphysiological doses of sustanon (3.2, 10 and 32mg/kg) resulted in a significant increase in body weight after 1month of weekly treatment in female rats. Aggressive/agitated behaviours were observed only in female rats at the period of weight increase. In conclusion, different doses of sustanon did not alter the body weight in male rats after 6weeks of treatment but doses of 3.2, 10 and 32mg/kg resulted in a significant increase in body weight of female rats.