Nandrolone Group Research Articles

Role of IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins within diaphragm muscle in modulating the effects of nandrolone.

Recent studies suggest that the anabolic effects of testosterone in muscle may be mediated, in part, by the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of nandrolone (NAN) on both IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in the diaphragm muscle of 1-yr-old female rats. NAN (6.6 mg. kg(-1) x day(-1)) was infused continuously for 17 days using a subcutaneous Silastic implant, whereas controls (CTL) received blank capsules. Muscle fibers were classified immunohistochemically, and fiber cross-sectional areas (CSA) were determined quantitatively. IGF-I levels in both serum and muscle were determined by RIA. Immunoreactivity to an IGF-I antibody was used to localize IGF-I expression within individual muscle fibers. Muscle IGFBPs were determined by SDS-PAGE and Western ligand blotting and measured by scanning densitometry. Body weight was higher in the NAN group compared with CTL (9.4 +/- 4.5% vs. -0.6 +/- 3.1%). There were no changes in the fiber composition of the diaphragm. NAN increased the CSA of type IIa (20%) and type IIx/b (30%) diaphragm fibers. Levels of IGF-I in the diaphragm muscle were significantly higher (50%) in NAN-treated animals. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased localization of IGF-I within type IIx/b diaphragm fibers. In addition, NAN increased IGFBP-3 within the diaphragm (69%), whereas IGFBP-4 decreased (40%). We conclude that NAN-induced diaphragm muscle fiber hypertrophy is mediated, in part, by influences of the IGF system within the muscle, such that coordinated changes in IGFBPs reflect a direction of change that has been associated with an anabolic response in other test systems.

Exercise performance indices in normal and anabolic steroid treated trotters

SummarySix adult Finnhorse trotters performed a standardised exercise test (SET) on a treadmill and a 4000 m maximal exercise test (MET) on a racetrack before, immediately and 13 weeks after a 14 week treatment with nandrolone laurate. Six other trotters served as controls. All horses were trained during the whole experiment. Blood lactate concentration, V200 VLa4 and red cell volume (CV) were determined in connection to the SET and blood lactate concentration, heart rate and performance time in the MET. All horses significantly improved their performance in the MET, but no differences were observed between the 2 groups. Nandrolone treatment caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in the CV and in the percentage of the oxidative type IIA fibres in the middle gluteal muscle. During the experiment V200 and VLa4 did not change (P>0.05) in either of the groups. The results indicate that CV was the only variable that predicted performance during the last 1000 m of the maximal test, whereas indicators of aerobic capacity, like V200 and VLa4, were of minor value. In the control group, the increase in the blood lactate concentration in the SET correlated positively with the total performance time (r=635; P<0.01) and the time of the last 1000 m (r=0.727; P<0.001) in the MET, but no correlation was found in the nandrolone group. The differences between the control and nandrolone groups suggest that both aerobic and anaerobic energy production in muscle are affected by nandrolone treatment.

Cardiovascular Toxicities of Nandrolone and Cocaine in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Cardiovascular Toxicities of Nandrolone and Cocaine in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Tseng, Y. T., Rockhold, R. W., Hoskins, B., and Ho, I. K. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 22, 113-121.The outcome of concurrent abuse of cocaine and anabolic steroids is largely unknown and merits investigation. The present study was designed to determine whether an animal model could be developed for investigation of the toxic responses to simultaneous administration of cocaine and an anabolic steroid, nandrolone decanoate. Twenty-four male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), all 7 weeks of age, were assigned randomly to four groups: (1) control, (2) cocaine, (3) nandrolone, and (4) cocaine plus nandrolone. Metabolic measurements and indirect (tail-cuff) blood pressure and heart rate measurements were performed on all rats every 2 weeks. All drug treatment groups exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of blood pressure after 6 weeks of treatment when compared to the control group. Cocaine plus nandrolone group exhibited the lowest heart rate compared to other groups. Rats were euthanized at 13 weeks of age, and different tissues were removed, blotted dry, and weighed. The kidney, levator ani muscle, and seminal vesicle (with prostate glands) weights in both nandrolone-receiving groups were higher than those of the control and cocaine groups. Testicular weights of the cocaine plus nandrolone group were less than those of the control and cocaine groups. Hearts were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde before myocardial dimension measurements were performed. The nandrolone group showed increased vertical ventricular diameters when compared to the control and cocaine groups. The nandrolone group also displayed higher vertical ventricular circumferences when compared to all the other groups. Finally, the cocaine plus nandrolone group had the greatest ventricular weights (per 100 g body weight) and left ventricular volumes. Myocardial inflammatory and fibrotic changes were significantly more evident in rats treated with nandrolone or cocaine plus nandrolone than in rats treated with vehicle or cocaine alone. The data suggest a potential for significant interactions between pharmacological and toxic responses to cocaine and nandrolone during the developing phase of hypertension in SHR.

Effect of nandrolone decanoate and 1- α-hydroxy-calciferol on patients with vertebral osteoporotic collapse. A double-blind clinical trial

Eighty-eight postmenopausal women with at least one vertebral collapse were randomly assigned to two groups of 44 patients each. All patients were treated for a period of 12 months with 50 mg of nandrolone decanoate every 3 weeks or 1 μg of 1- α-hydroxy-calciferol daily. Both groups received an identical placebo of the inactive drug. Pain intensity was significantly decreased in the nandrolone group and mobility was improved. Patients treated with vitamin D metabolite had also a beneficial but less obvious clinical result. Bone mineral measurements showed an increase of 5% in the nandrolone decanoate group, but a 2.5% decrease in the vitamin D metabolite group. Biochemical results showed a significant hypercalciuric effect of vitamin D metabolite, while nandrolone decanoate caused a reduction in calcium/creatinine excretion. No difference in serum lipids was found during the annual treatment in both groups. It is concluded that nandrolone decanoate has a beneficial effect in clinical symptoms, bone mineral density and biochemical parameters in patients with established osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Testosterone administration increases insulin-like growth factor-I levels in normal men.

Although testosterone (T) administration can increase insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) when administered to hypogonadal men, no studies have examined whether this occurs in normal men. The present study was undertaken to determine if an increase in IGF-I may be part of the anabolic effect of androgens. We enrolled 11 normal men in a randomized, double-blinded cross-over study. Subjects were assigned to receive either T enanthate (TE) (300 mg im, each week) or nandrolone (ND) decanoate (300 mg im, each week) for 6 weeks. After a washout period subjects were administered the alternate treatment. Pre- and posttreatment serum was analyzed for IGF-I by RIA after acid-ethanol extraction. Results expressed as mean +/- SEM (Table 1). IGF-binding protein-3 was measured by RIA and was unchanged in the TE treatment and decreased significantly after ND treatment. Although GH levels were not significantly different after either TE or ND treatment, they tended to increase after TE treatment (1.23 +/- 0.28 ng/mL vs. 3.3 +/- 1.03 ng/mL) but remained unchanged after ND treatment (1.68 +/- 0.68 ng/mL vs. 1.89 +/- 0.64 ng/mL). Serum total T levels increased 32 +/- 0.05 nmol/L in the TE-treated men, but fell by 7 +/- 0.02 nmol/L in the ND-treated men (P < 0.0001). Serum estradiol levels rose by 193.04 +/- 19.82 pmol/L in the TE-treated men although falling by 50.65 +/- 34.50 pmol/L in the ND-treated men (P < 0.0002). These data indicate that when normal men are given TE, serum IGF-I levels increase after 6 weeks of treatment. Treatment with ND did not change serum levels of IGF-I but did decrease the level of the major serum IGF-BP and therefore the level of bioavailable IGF-I may be increased in the ND group.

A Pilot Study of Anabolic Steroids in Elderly Patients With Hip Fractures

To determine the safety and efficacy of the anabolic steroid nandrolone in elderly patients with hip fractures. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. The orthopedic ward of a university teaching hospital. 29 frail elderly females with hip fractures. Subjects received nandrolone 2 mg/kg (n = 15) or placebo (n = 14) by weekly injection for 4 weeks or until discharge. Baseline functional status was assessed by the Lawton-Brody ADL and IADL. Hemoglobin, transferrin, thyroid-binding prealbumin, albumin, liver function tests, creatinine, weight, MAMC, bioelectric impedance, standard anthropometrics and grip strength were measured at baseline and weekly intervals. Rehabilitation parameters and length of stay were recorded. The placebo and nandrolone groups were similar in age, although the control group had slightly higher baseline ADL scores. There was no difference between groups in biochemical parameters, anthropometrics, body composition, grip strength, rehabilitation end points or length of stay. One subject in the nandrolone group had a doubling of AST and was withdrawn from the study. Nandrolone can be given safely to frail elderly subjects with hip fractures but is likely to be of minimal benefit at the doses we employed.