title: Cardiotoxicity in rabbits after long-term nandrolone decanoate administration.
abstract: Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids is linked to a variety of cardiovascular complications. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible cardiovascular effects of nandrolone decanoate on young rabbits using echocardiography, histology and monitoring of telomerase activity, oxidative stress and biochemical markers. Fourteen rabbits were divided into three administration groups and the control group. Doses of 4mg/kg and 10mg/kg of nandrolone decanoate, given intramuscularly and subcutaneously, two days per week for six months were applied. A 4-months wash-out period followed. Focal fibrosis and inflammatory infiltrations of cardiac tissue were observed in the high dose groups. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) levels were significantly increased in the high dose groups, while catalase activity decreased. Myocardial Performance Index (MPI) is the main echocardiographic index primarily affected by nandrolone administration in rabbits. Despite the preserved systolic performance, histological lesions observed associated with distorted MPI values, point to diastolic impairment of the thickened myocardium due to nandrolone treatment. Oxidative stress accumulates and telomerase activity in cardiac tissue rises. Subcutaneous administration seems to be more deleterious to the cardiovascular system, as oxidative stress, telomerase activity and biochemical markers do not appear to return into normal values in the wash-out period.
authors.affiliation: Center of Toxicology Science & Research, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vasilaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Dangerous Substances, Mixtures and Articles, Directorate of Energy, Industrial & Chemical Products, General Chemical State Laboratory of Greece, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsitsimpikou
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Karditsa, Terma-Tavropou, Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsarouhas
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Germanakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Marias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzardi
authors.affiliation: Center of Toxicology Science & Research, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Matthaios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kavvalakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Istanbul University, Beyazit, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Eren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozcagli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kouretas
authors.affiliation: Center of Toxicology Science & Research, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Electronic address: toxlab@med.uoc.gr.
authors.forename: Aristidis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D066126:Cardiotoxicity; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D009277:Nandrolone; D002374:Catalase; D019098:Telomerase; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate
keywords: Anabolic steroids; Biochemical markers; Echocardiography; Nandrolone decanoate; Oxidative stress; Telomerase activity