title: Nandrolone decanoate has long-term effects on dominance in a competitive situation in male rats.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine possible long-term effects of the anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS), nandrolone decanoate (ND), on dominance in a provoking and competitive situation in sexually matured male rats. The experimental group (n=10) received daily injections of ND [15 mg/kg in a volume of 1 ml/kg subcutaneous (s.c.) injection for 14 days]. During the corresponding period, the controls (n=10) were given daily injections of an oil vehicle (1 ml/kg s.c.). All animals were tested in a competitive situation at four occasions after the end of the treatment period (week 5, 8, 11 and 14). Water-deprived pairs of rats, consisting of one ND-treated rat and one control, had to compete for access to water. The results showed that the ND-treated rats approached the water spout significantly more often compared to the controls. During the competition tests, the ND-treated rats spent more time drinking, an effect that was prominent for 11 weeks after the end of the treatment period. The ND-treated rats also displayed more frequently piloerection than the controls. The results indicate that ND has long-term effect on dominance in a provoking and competitive situation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Göteborg University, P.O. Box 500, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. ann-sophie.lindqvist@psy.gu.se
authors.forename: Ann-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fahlke
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate; D010863:Piloerection / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012930:Social Dominance; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D014868:Water Deprivation
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D009277:Nandrolone; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate