HEPATOTOXIC AND CARDIOTOXIC EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE ENANTHATE ABUSE ON ADULT MALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Background: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) represent a group of synthetic derivatives of testosterone created to maximize anabolic effects and minimize the androgenic ones. Athletes use anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) to enhance performance regardless of the health risk they may impact in some persons. Objective: To study the histopathological and biochemical changes that could occur on liver and cardiac muscle after administration of doping dose (supraphysiological dose) of testosterone enanthate (one of AAS). Materials and Methods: One hundred (100) male albino rats were included in the present study and divided into six groups. Group (1a); negative control group, Group (1b) positive control group treated with therapeutic dose of testosterone Enanthate (10 mg /Kg body weight intramuscular / I.M weekly for 12 weeks), group (2) was treated with doping dose of testosterone enanthate (60 mg /Kg body weight/ I.M for 4 weeks), group (3) was treated with treated with doping dose of testosterone enanthate (60 mg /Kg body weight / I.M weekly for 8 weeks), group (4) treated with doping dose of testosterone enanthate (60 mg /Kg body weight / I.M weekly for 12 weeks), group (5a) treated with doping dose of testosterone enanthate (60 mg /Kg body weight/ I.M/ weekly for 12 weeks followed by 2 weeks of treatment discontinuation) , group (5b) treated with doping dose of testosterone enanthate (60 mg /Kg body weight/ I.M weekly for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of treatment discontinuation). Blood samples were collected at the start and at the end of study. Liver and cardiac enzymes were measured by usual methods. At the end of study for each group, animals were sacrificed and deeply anesthetized by diethyl ether then specimens from the heart and liver were processed for histological study using light microscope. Results: There was no statistical significant difference in the body weight between negative and positive control group. In contrast, animals administering doping dose of testosterone enanthate for 8 and 12 weeks (group III-IV) showed a significant decrease in the body weight compared with animals of control group and group II (P < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in the body weight of recovery group (group Va and group Vb) when compared with control group (p value < 0.05). In the current study as regard the level of liver biomarkers (ALT-AST) had gradual significant increase all through the experimental periods. There was a significant increase in the level of creatinine kinase (CK) and CK-MB in treated groups versus control in most of experimental groups at P Conclusion: Chronic use of testosterone enanthate in supraphysiological dose (doping dose) has a toxic effect on rat cardiac muscle and liver in the form of alteration of normal histology, hypertrophy and fibrosis at both histological and biochemical levels which may lead to loss of their functions. This effect was partially reversible after cessation of the treatment.