title: Nandrolone decanoate inhibits gluconeogenesis and decreases fasting glucose in Wistar male rats.
abstract: The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids to improve physical performance or appearance has increased notably. The doses used are 10- to 100- fold higher than the therapeutic dose (TD), and this abuse can cause several side effects. Glucose metabolism is significantly affected by anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse, but studies about glycemic regulation during fasting are scarce. There are some evidences showing that testosterone can antagonize glucocorticoids action, which are crucial to glucose production during fasting. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of supraphysiological doses (SDs) of nandrolone decanoate (DECA) on rat glucose metabolism during fasting. Male Wistar rats were treated with i.m. injections of vehicle, a low TD (0.016 mg/100 g b.w.-TD group) or a high SD (1 mg/100 g b.w.-SD group) of DECA, once a week for 8 weeks. After 12 h fasting, we evaluated glucose and pyruvate tolerance tests, liver glycogen content, serum levels of gluconeogenic substrates, insulin and corticosterone, glucose uptake and hexokinase (HK) activity in skeletal muscle, and the adrenal catecholamine content. SD group had increased serum insulin levels and a blunted response to insulin regarding glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. Fasting serum glucose decreased significantly in SD group, as well as the pyruvate tolerance test and liver glycogen content. Moreover, serum levels of glycerol were increased in SD group. Our data indicate that SDs of DECA exert effects on different regulatory points of glucose metabolism, resulting in defective gluconeogenesis and decreased skeletal muscle glucose uptake in response to insulin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Radiobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, CCS Laboratory of Endocrine Physiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho Laboratory of Exercise Biology, School of Physical Education and Sports Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Block G - Underground - Room G0-031, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Stephan Pinheiro
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Frankenfeld
authors.forename: Leonardo Pires
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Daniele Leão
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ignacio
authors.forename: Raquel Guimarães
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Mariana Nigro
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.forename: Andrea Claudia Freitas
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Denise Pires
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Rodrigo Soares
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fortunato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005943:Gluconeogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D008297:Male; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D013739:Testosterone; D009277:Nandrolone; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate; D005947:Glucose
keywords: anabolic–androgenic steroids; gluconeogenesis; glucose; insulin