Cholinergic system of rats treated with vincristine sulphate and nandrolone decanoate

Abstract

This study aimed to detect brain and red blood cell acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE and RBC-AChE, respectively) of rats treated with vincristine sulphate and different doses of nandrolone decanoate. Thirty rats were divided into six groups (n = 5). The treatments were applied once a week for 2 weeks. Sample collection was performed in the third week. The groups were divided in: G1, physiologic solution (PS) (first and second week); G2, vincristine sulphate (4 mg/m2) in the first week and PS in the second week; G3, PS in the first week and nandrolone decanoate (1.8 mg/kg−1) in the second week; G4, PS in the first week and nandrolone decanoate (10 mg/kg−1) in the second week; G5, vincristine sulphate (4 mg/m2) in the first week and nandrolone decanoate (1.8 mg/kg−1) in the second week; and G6, vincristine sulphate (4 mg/m2) in the first week and nandrolone decanoate (10 mg/kg−1) in the second week. The isolated use of nandrolone decanoate and its use in association with vincristine sulphate altered brain AChE and RBC-AChE activity. These results suggest that there is interference in cholinergic neurotransmission, which could cause an alteration of its neurotransmitter, as well as a low or high stimulation of post-synaptic receptors. The serum RBC-AChE activity results presented in this study are similar to those exhibited by brain tissue.