title: Effects of nandrolone on recovery after neurotization of chronically denervated muscle in a rat model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Suboptimal recovery following repair of major peripheral nerves has been partially attributed to denervation atrophy. Administration of anabolic steroids in conjunction with neurotization may improve functional recovery of chronically denervated muscle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the administration of nandrolone on muscle recovery following prolonged denervation in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats (15 rats per group, 120 in all) were divided into 3- or 6-month denervated hind limb and sham surgery groups and, then, nandrolone treatment groups and sham treatment groups. Evaluation of treatment effects included nerve conduction, force of contraction, comparative morphology, histology (of muscle fibers), protein electrophoresis (for muscle fiber grouping), and immunohistochemical evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although a positive trend was noted, neither reinnervated nor normal muscle showed a statistically significant increase in peak muscle force following nandrolone treatment. Indirect measures, including muscle mass (weight and diameter), muscle cell size, muscle fiber type, and satellite cell counts, all failed to support significant anabolic effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There does not seem to be a functional benefit from nandrolone treatment following reinnervation of either mild or moderately atrophic muscle (related to prolonged denervation) in a rodent model.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hand Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isaacs
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feher
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shall
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vota
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Satya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallu
authors.forename: Ashkon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.forename: Ilvy
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Friebe
authors.forename: Sagar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spita
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D009277:Nandrolone