Use of the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate associated to strength training in Wistar rats

Leonardo Vidal Andreato,Helenton Cristhian Barrena,Felipe Natali Almeida,Sidney Barnabé Peres,Solange Marta Franzói De Moraes,Tatiane Aparecida Da Silva Ribeiro,João Victor Del Conti Esteves

doi:10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i2.15513

Leonardo Vidal Andreato, Helenton Cristhian Barrena + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i2.15513

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Abstract

Anabolic steroids have been constantly used among athletes and physically active individuals. Adverse effects of such use are reported in the literature. However, little is known about the effects of anabolic steroid use associated with strength training. Thus, this research aimed to identify possible morphophysiological alterations in Wistar rats treated with the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate and submitted to strength training. Twenty Wistar rats were divided in four groups: sedentary control (SC), sedentary hormone (SH), trained control (TC) and trained hormone (TH). After the experimental protocol period, animals were killed and body weight, adiposity, renal and hepatic injury markers, plasmatic lipid profile, glycemia, and insulinemia were determined. The experimental conditions strength training and nandrolone decanoate (isolated or associated) were positively correlated to a reduction on visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The association of strength training with nandrolone decanoate was the most effective condition to increase muscle mass. Heart and kidneys weights, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration were also negatively modified. The data demonstrated effects of anabolic steroids in body composition, with better results when associated with strength training, but collateral effects were observed.

Highlights

Steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol and metabolic precursors produced by the adrenal cortex and gonads (HÄKKINEN et al, 2001)
Using the apparatus proposed by Tamaki et al (1992), which allows animals to reproduce the squat weight-lifting training, we proposed to analyze the supraphysiological effects of nandrolone decanoate use in association to strength training on body composition, lipid and glucose homeostasis, liver and renal injury markers and strength gain in adult male rats
Neither the administration of nandrolone decanoate and/or resistance exercise training for a period of 4 weeks resulted in significant differences in body weight (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol and metabolic precursors produced by the adrenal cortex and gonads (HÄKKINEN et al, 2001). Belonging to this class of hormone is testosterone, a molecule with anabolic and androgenic properties, Acta Scientiarum. German soldiers in World War II did the first non-medical use of anabolic steroids in order to boost aggression (FULLER, 1993). The non-medical use of anabolic steroids has reached alarming proportions, affecting other population segments, as health club users and even high school students (MAHARAJ et al, 2000; YESALIS; BAHRKE, 2000). In Brazil, the percentage of anabolic steroid users on school is about 2% (VENÂNCIO et al, 2010)

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