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Tibúrcio FC, Leite APS, Muller KS, Pinto CG, Valentino E, Castro PATDS, Matsumura CY, de Carvalho SF, Matheus SMM. Effects of Nandrolone Decanoate on Skeletal Muscle and Neuromuscular Junction of Sedentary and Exercised Rats. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1940. [PMID: 38003989 PMCID: PMC10673219 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59111940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is the most widely used among the anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), synthetic substances derived from testosterone, to improve muscular and health gains associated with exercises. The AAS leads to physical performance enhancement and presents anti-aging properties, but its abuse is associated with several adverse effects. Supraphysiological doses of AAS with or without physical exercise can cause morphological and functional alterations in neuromuscular interactions. This study aims to investigate the effects of ND supraphysiological doses in neuromuscular interactions, focusing on the soleus muscle and its neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in rats, associated or not with physical exercise. Materials and Methods: Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: sedentary and exercised groups, with or without ND at the dose of 10 mg/kg/week. The animals were treated for eight weeks, with intramuscular injections, and the soleus muscle was collected for morphological analyses. Results: The supraphysiological doses of ND in the sedentary group caused muscle degeneration, evidenced by splitting fibers, clusters of small fibers, irregular myofibrils, altered sarcomeres, an increase in collagen deposition and in the number of type I muscle fibers (slow-twitch) and central nuclei, as well as a decrease in fibers with peripheral nuclei. On the other hand, in the ND exercise group, there was an increase in the NMJs diameter with scattering of its acetylcholine receptors, although no major morphological changes were found in the skeletal muscle. Thus, the alterations caused by ND in sedentary rats were partially reversed by physical exercise. Conclusions: The supraphysiological ND exposure in the sedentary rats promoted an increase in muscle oxidative pattern and adverse morphological alterations in skeletal muscle, resulting from damage or post-injury regeneration. In the ND-exercised rats, no major morphological changes were found. Thus, the physical exercise partially reversed the alterations caused by ND in sedentary rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Cantore Tibúrcio
- Medical School, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil; (F.C.T.); (A.P.S.L.); (K.S.M.); (C.G.P.)
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (C.Y.M.)
| | - Ana Paula Silveira Leite
- Medical School, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil; (F.C.T.); (A.P.S.L.); (K.S.M.); (C.G.P.)
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (C.Y.M.)
| | - Kevin Silva Muller
- Medical School, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil; (F.C.T.); (A.P.S.L.); (K.S.M.); (C.G.P.)
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (C.Y.M.)
| | - Carina Guidi Pinto
- Medical School, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil; (F.C.T.); (A.P.S.L.); (K.S.M.); (C.G.P.)
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (C.Y.M.)
| | - Erick Valentino
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (C.Y.M.)
| | - Paula Aiello Tomé de Souza Castro
- Department of Physical Therapy, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil;
| | - Cintia Yuri Matsumura
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (C.Y.M.)
| | - Shelly Favorito de Carvalho
- Electron Microscopy Center, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil;
| | - Selma Maria Michelin Matheus
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (C.Y.M.)
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Adenosine receptors participate in anabolic-androgenic steroid-induced changes on risk assessment/anxiety-like behaviors in male and female rats. Physiol Behav 2023; 261:114071. [PMID: 36584765 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and caffeine can induce several behavioral alterations in humans and rodents. Administration of nandrolone decanoate is known to affect defensive responses to aversive stimuli, generally decreasing inhibitory control and increasing aggressivity but whether caffeine intake influences behavioral changes induced by AAS is unknown. The present study aimed to investigate behavioral effects of caffeine (a non-selective antagonist of adenosine receptors) alone or combined with nandrolone decanoate (one of the most commonly AAS abused) in female and male Lister Hooded rats. Our results indicated that chronic administration of nandrolone decanoate (10 mg/kg, i.m., once a week for 8 weeks) decreased risk assessment/anxiety-like behaviors (in the elevated plus maze test), regardless of sex. These effects were prevented by combined caffeine intake (0.1 g/L, p.o., ad libitum). Overall, the present study heralds a key role for caffeine intake in the modulation of nandrolone decanoate-induced behavioral changes in rats, suggesting adenosine receptors as candidate targets to manage impact of AAS on brain function and behavior.
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Sessa F, Esposito M, Salerno M. Experimental studies on androgen administration in animal models: current and future perspectives. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2022; 29:566-585. [PMID: 35943186 DOI: 10.1097/med.0000000000000768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to report the most recent (2020-2022) experimental scientific studies conducted on animal models, in order to highlight the relevant findings on the adverse effects related to androgen administration. RECENT FINDINGS Forty-one studies published between January 2020 and July 2022 were selected. The majority of studies investigated the effects of one androgen, whereas only four studies analyzed the effects of two drugs. Nandrolone decanoate was the most investigated drug (20 articles), boldenone was tested in 8 articles, testosterone and stanozolol were used in 7 articles each, 17b-trenbolone, metandienone, and oxandrolone were tested in 1 article each. The articles clarify the adverse effects of androgen administration on the heart, brain, kidney, liver, reproductive and musculoskeletal systems. SUMMARY The main findings of this review highlight that androgen administration increases inflammatory mediators, altering different biochemical parameters. The results concerning the reversibility of the adverse effects are controversial: on the one hand, several studies suggested that by stopping the androgen administration, the organs return to their initial state; on the other hand, the alteration of different biochemical parameters could generate irreversible organ damage. Moreover, this review highlights the importance of animal studies that should be better organized in order to clarify several important aspects related to androgen abuse to fill the gap in our knowledge in this research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Sessa
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies 'G.F. Ingrassia', University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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