Abstract
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are nominated for clinical use to promote protein synthesis in many therapeutic conditions. However, the indiscriminate use of AAS is related to hazardous cardiac disturbances and oxidative stress. We designed a study to investigate whether prolonged treatment with high doses of stanozolol modifies the activities of some antioxidant enzymes in the heart in sedentary and trained rats and whether this treatment causes alterations of cardiovascular parameters. In addition, the effectiveness of melatonin as an antioxidant and as a modulator of the cardiovascular side effects of stanozolol (STA) treatment was analyzed. Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into the following six groups: sedentary (S), stanozolol sedentary (SS), stanozolol-melatonin sedentary (SMS), trained (T), stanozolol trained (ST) and stanozolol-melatonin trained (SMT). The stanozolol-treatment rats received 5 mg.kg(-1) by subcutaneous injection before each exercise session (5 d.wk(-1), i.e., 25 mg.kg(-1).wk(-1)), while control groups received only saline solution injection. The melatonin-treatment groups received intraperitoneal injections of melatonin (10 mg.kg(-1)), 5 d.wk(-1) for 6 wk. Electrocardiography, blood pressure and antioxidant enzyme activity measurements were performed at the end of the experimental period for cardiac function and molecular assessment. This is the first time that the in vivo effects of melatonin treatment on stanozolol-induced cardiovascular side effects have been studied. Stanozolol induced bradycardia and significantly increased cardiac superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Trained stanozolol-treated rats experienced an increase in blood pressure and relative heart weight, and they developed left cardiac axis deviation. Although melatonin did not prevent cardiac hypertrophy in exercised stanozolol-treated animals, it maintained blood pressure and cardiac catalase activity, and it prevented stanozolol-induced cardiac electrical axis deviation. In conclusion, under our experimental conditions, chronic stanozolol administration induced mild cardiovascular side effects that were partly attenuated by melatonin treatment. However, these results showed that the combination of melatonin and exercise could minimize the stanozolol side effects in the cardiovascular system.
Highlights
Stanozolol (STA) is a synthetic 17α-alkylated derivative of testosterone that exhibits a greater anabolic potency and a slower hepatic degradation than the natural male hormone [1]
In conclusion, under our experimental conditions, chronic stanozolol administration induced mild cardiovascular side effects that were partly attenuated by melatonin treatment
These results showed that the combination of melatonin and exercise could minimize the stanozolol side effects in the cardiovascular system
Summary
Stanozolol (STA) is a synthetic 17α-alkylated derivative of testosterone that exhibits a greater anabolic potency and a slower hepatic degradation than the natural male hormone [1]. While endogenous steroids are essential for the homeostatic functions of the body, exogenous steroids, i.e., anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), can be used to increase muscle mass, reduce body fat, and improve patient response to major trauma or surgery. AAS are used to improve muscular dystrophy, treat HIV patients, treat osteoporosis, alleviate symptoms of depression and anemia and reduce the effects of male hypogonadism [2, 3]. In addition to their therapeutic use, AAS are employed at suprapharmacologic doses in the context of sports to increase muscular development, physical performance, aerobic capacity and tolerance to high-intensity training [1]. Many studies have shown a relationship between ASS abuse and disturbances in cardiac electrical impulse conduction, myocardial apoptosis and sudden death [6,7,8,9]
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