Biochemical effects of nandrolone decanoate abuse on experimental animal model

Rational: Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is one of the most commonly abused anabolic androgenic steroids compound in the world in order to improve physical performance but its abuse is associated with several adverse effects.Objectives: The current study was performed to evaluate the effect of recommended and overdose of nandrolone decanoate for short and long term on the alterations of biochemical markers related to kidney, liver, adrenal, thyroid gland functions and the levels of oxidant and antioxidant activities.Methods: Sixty adult male albino rats were randomly assigned into two major groups.The first was treated with ND for 6 weeks and the second was treated with same drug for 12 weeks.Each of these groups were further subdivided into three subgroups: 1-Control (untreated rats), 2-Rats intraperitoneally injected with 3 mg/ kg.weekly, 3-Rats intraperitoneally injected with 15 mg/kg weekly.Results: Ingesting male rats with high ND dose for either short or long term significantly elevated kidney function biomarkers (serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and NAG), liver function biomarkers (serum AST, ALT, cytosolic AST,ALT and mitochondrial AST), slightly increased thyroid function (T3 ant T4) and insignificantly attenuated TSH.It significantly increased adrenal function (corticosterone) while, decreased ACTH.Moreover, oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide anion and lipid peroxides) were significantly upregulated associated with depression in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities.Conclusion: The use of high ND dose for either short or long term as well as the repeated use of recommended ND dose for long term proved to have harmful effects manifested in impairing the functions of kidneys, liver, thyroid, adrenal glands as well as oxidant antioxidant balance.