Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reversibility of the haemodynamic effects of anabolic steroids in rats

  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The haemodynamic effects of 6 weeks nandrolone decanoate treatment (total dose 30 mg · kg−1) (SG I,n=12) and their reversibility were studied in anaesthetised, open-chest male rats exposed to 5 min isoproterenol (2.5 μg · kg−1) and CaCl2 (25.0 mg · kg−1) loads. In SG I, the heart weight and its ratio to body weight were greater than in the untreated rats (CG I,n=13) (p<0.05 andp<0.01 respectively). The initial heart rate and the inotropic and chronotropic responses to isoproterenol were lower in SG I than in CG I (p<0.05 in all cases). Peripheral resistance decreased during both infusions in SG I but remained unaltered in CG I (p<0.05). 6 weeks after finishing anabolic steroid treatment (SG II,n=11), in the CaCl2-test the ejection fraction (p<0.05) and stroke index were smaller than in control rats of the same age (CG II,n = 12). Mean aortic pressure was lower in SG II than in CG II. In the CaCl2-test peripheral resistance was initially higher, but decreased during the infusion in SG II while it increased in CG II (p<0.05 in both cases). In conclusion, anabolic steroid treatment reversibly reduces the left ventricular response to isoproterenol. It decreases peripheral vascular tone during inotropic loads. Six weeks after the cessation of treatment, the pumping efficiency of the heart is reduced.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Appell H-J (1983) Anabolika und muskuläre Systeme. Wissenschaftliche Schriftenreihe des deutschen Sportbundes, Band 16. Verlag Karl Hoffmann, Schondorf, FRG

    Google Scholar 

  • van Arman CG, Drill VA (1986) Some cardiovascular effects of norethandrolone (Nilevar), testosterone and progesterone. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 124: 59–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker PJ, Ramey ER, Ramwell PN (1978) Androgen-mediated sex-differences of cardiovascular responses in rats. Am J Physiol 235:H242–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Behrendt H, Boffin H (1977) Myocardial lesions caused by an anabolic hormone. Cell Tiss Res 181: 423–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergink EW, Geelen JAA, Turpijn EW (1985) Anabolics, androgens and receptors. Acta Endocrin [Suppl] 271: 31–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Einfeldt H (1978) Der Einfluß des Testerons auf Muskulatur und Erythropoiese. Therapiewoche 28: 1318–1326

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganz W, Swan HJC (1974) Measurement of blood flow by the thermodilution technique. In: Bloomfield D (ed) Dye Curves. HM + M Medical and Scientific Publ, Aylesbury, pp 245–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner FH (1985) Anabolic steroids in aplastic anemia. Acta Endocrin [Suppl] 271: 87–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann G, Addicks K, Donike M, Schanzer W (1986) Testosterone application influences sympathetic activity of intracardiac nerves in non-trained and trained mice. J Auton Ner Syst 17: 85–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Holma P (1977) Effect of anabolic steroid, methandionone, on haemodynamics, endogenous hormone production and spermatogenesis. Thesis. University of Helsinki, Finland, pp 1–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt JP (1956) Estimation of the residual volume of the ventricle of the dog's heart by two indicator dilution technics. Circ Res 4: 187–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Karhunen M, Rämö P, Kettunen R, Hirvonen L (1988) The cardiovascular effects of deconditioning after endurance training in rats. Acta Physiol Scand 133: 307–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Kettunen R (1985) The thermodilution technique in on-line computation of the left ventricular volumes on anaesthetized dogs. Cath Cardiovasc Diagn 11: 25–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Kettunen R, Timisjärvi J, Kouvalainen E, Anttila P, Hirvonen L (1985) Electromechanical delay in the intact dog heart. Int J Cardiol 9: 161–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig H, Goldstone A, Chung YL (1982) Testosterone-mediated sexual dimorphism of the rodent heart. Circ Res 50: 782–787

    Google Scholar 

  • Krieg M, Smith K, Bartsch W (1978) Demonstration of a specific androgen receptor in rat heart muscle: relationship between binding, metabolism and tissue levels of androgens. Endocrinology 103: 1686–1694

    Google Scholar 

  • Leeds EM, Wilkerson JE, Brown GD, Kamen G, Breedle D (1986) Effects of exercise and anabolic steroids on total and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in male and female rats. Med Sci Sports Exerc 18 (6): 663–667

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggi CA, Meli A (1986) Suitability of urethane anesthesia for physio-pharmacological investigations in various systems. Part 2: Cardiovascular system. Experientia 42: 292–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Marble AE, McIntyre CM, Hasting-James R, Hor CW (1981) A comparison of digital algorithms used in computing the derivative of left ventricular pressure. IEEE Trans Biomed Engin BME-28: 524–529

    Google Scholar 

  • McGill HC Jr, Sheridan PJ (1981) Nuclear uptake of sex steroid hormones in the cardiovascular system of the baboon. Circ Res 48: 238–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Molteni A, Brownie AC, Skelton FR (1969) Production of hypertensive vascular disease in the rat by methyltestosterone. Lab Invest 21: 129–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Okada M (1979) A digital filter for the QRS-complex detection. IEEE Trans Biomed Engin. BME-26: 700–703

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogozkin V (1979) Metabolic effects of anabolic steroid on skeletal muscle. Med Sci Sports 11: 160–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Rämö P (1987) Anabolic steeroids alter the haemodynamic responses of the canine left ventricle. Acta Physiol Scand 130: 209–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Salt PJ (1972) Inhibition of noradrenaline uptake2 in the isolated rat heart by steroids, clonidine and methoxylated phenylethylamines. Eur J Pharmacol 20: 329–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallenstein S, Zucker CL, Fleiss JL (1980) Some statistical methods useful in circulation research. Circ Res 47: 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb OL, Laskarzewski PM, Gueck EJ (1984) Severe depression of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in weight lifters and body builders by self-administered exogenous testosterone and anabolic-androgenic steroids. Metabolism 33: 971–975

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf MA, Braunwald E (1984) General anesthesia and noncardiac surgery in patients with heart disease. In: Braunwald E (ed) Heart disease, W. B. Saunders Co, Philadelphia, pp. 1815–1825

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright JE (1980) Anabolic steroids and athletics. Exerc Sport Sci 8: 149–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Wynn V (1975) Metabolic effects of anabolic steroids. Br J Sports Med 9: 60–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang SS, Bentivoglio LG, Maranhao V, Goldberg H (1978) From cardiac catheterization data to hemodynamic parameters. 2nd ed. F. A. Davis Co, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Oulu, Kajaanintie 52 A, SF-90220, Oulu, Finland

    Maija K. Pesola M.D.

Authors
  1. Maija K. Pesola M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pesola, M.K. Reversibility of the haemodynamic effects of anabolic steroids in rats. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 58, 125–131 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00636615

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00636615

Key words

Search

Navigation