Abdelalim A Gadallah, Heba A El-Ghawet and Dalia A Sabry
Anabolic-androgenic steroids have been widely used by athletes for performance and body building. The present study was carried out to illustrate the cytotoxic effects of nandrolone decanoate on liver, gonadotroph, somatotroph and corticotrophin cells and their correlations to prostate structure and function. Deca-durabolin (nandrolone decanoate) was intramuscular administered (every three days for three months) to male Wistar rats (100 g body weight) at two dose levels; low (4 mg/kg) and high dose-treatment (8 mg/kg body weight). At the end of treatment, the liver, prostate and pituitary were dissected and subjected for histological and transmission electron microscopy and isoenzyme electrophoresis of alkaline and acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, maleic dehydrogenase and lactic dehydrogenase.
The present finding revealed pathological alterations in both liver and prostate. The histopathological structure characterized by leukocytic infiltration at low doses and hepatic necrosis in liver. Meanwhile the prostate gland exhibited marked atrophy of the follicles. Their epithelial lining cells showed marked hyperplasia and flattening as well as nuclear pyknosis especially of the high dose-treatment. The assayed isoenzyme electrophoresis was altered post drug-treatment especially alkaline and acid phosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase. At transmission electron microscopy, there is a marked reduction of the secretory granules within cytoplasm of gonadotroph cells somatotroph and corticotrophin cells associated with striking accumulation of fat globules in between the damaged cells. These manifested depletion of the related hormones secreted by these cells. The authors concluded that athletes and body building men have be aware of using these drugs without regular physical examination to avoid their drastic effects on their body organs.