Abstract
Boldenone Undecylenate (BLD) is a synthetic derivative of testosterone and a widely used anabolic androgenic steroid. The health risk of BLD use as a pharmaceutical or dietary supplement is still underestimated and under-reported. Vitamin C (VC) has been recognized as an antioxidant with prominent hepatorenal protective effects. This study investigated the possible preventive activity of VC against BLD-induced hepatorenal damage. Forty adult male Wistar rats were classified into five groups: control, vehicle control, VC (orally given 120 mg/kg b. wt./day), BLD (intramuscularly injected 5 mg/kg b. wt./week), and BLD + VC-treated groups. The experiment continued for eight weeks. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. Serum contents of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and very-low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (VLDL-C) were also assayed. Urea, creatinine, and uric acid levels were determined together with sodium and potassium electrolytes measuring. Moreover, oxidative stress indicators including reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GSR) as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in both hepatic and renal tissues. Corresponding histological examination of renal and hepatic tissues was conducted. Besides, immunohistochemical evaluations for androgen receptors protein (AR) and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp 90) expressions were performed. BLD caused significant rises in serum ALT, AST, TP, ALB, TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, urea, creatinine, uric acid, potassium, and MDA levels. Further, BLD-injected rats showed significant declines in the serum levels of HDL-C, sodium, GSH, GPx, GST, and GSR. Besides, distinct histopathological perturbations were detected in renal and hepatic tissues of BLD-injected rats. AR and Hsp 90 immunoexpression were increased in hepatic and renal tissues. In contrast, VC significantly reversed the BLD-induced hepatorenal damage in co-treated rats but not ameliorated AR protein overexpression. VC could be an efficient preventive supplement for mitigating BLD-induced hepatorenal damage, possibly via controlling oxidative stress events.
Highlights
The use of anabolic–androgen steroids (AASs) has recently increased among amateur and men who are not athletes but want to improve their physical appearance
Based on Vitamin C (VC)’s antioxidant activities, this study explored the ability of VC oral dosing to mitigate hepatorenal damage caused by boldenone undecenoate (BLD)
The cotreatment with VC in BLD-injected rats significantly reduced the increment in ALT and AST enzyme levels comparable to the BLD-injected group
Summary
The use of anabolic–androgen steroids (AASs) has recently increased among amateur and men who are not athletes but want to improve their physical appearance. Boldenone undecylenate or boldenone undecenoate (BLD), a well-known AASs member, is primarily produced for veterinary use mainly for horses and known as Equipoise, Ganabol, Equigan, and Ultragan (Tousson et al, 2016). It increases the growth and nutrient conversion of food-producing animals. The illegal use of BLD in racing horses and food-producing animals still represents a major concern (Le Bizec et al, 2006; Genangeli et al, 2019). BLD could adversely affect human directly by injecting muscles and indirectly by eating meat from BLDtreated animals (Oda and El-Ashmawy, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
