Nandrolone decanoate determines cardiac remodelling and injury by an imbalance in cardiac inflammatory cytokines and ACE activity, blunting of the Bezold–Jarisch reflex, resulting in the development of hypertension

• Published in: Steroids Vol. 78; no. 3; pp. 379 - 385
• Main Authors: Franquni, João Vicente Maggioni, do Nascimento, Andrews Marques, de Lima, Eweliny Miranda, Brasil, Girlândia Alexandre, Heringer, Otávio Arruda, Cassaro, Karla Oliveira dos Santos, da Cunha, Thony Vinicius Pita, Musso, Carlos, Silva Santos, Maria Carmen L.F., Kalil, Ieda Carneiro, Endringer, Denise Coutinho, Boëchat, Giovanna Assis Pereirra, Bissoli, Nazaré Souza, de Andrade, Tadeu Uggere
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Anabolic agents; Anabolic Agents - adverse effects; Animals; Arterial Pressure - drug effects; Bradycardia - etiology; Bradycardia - immunology; Bradycardia - physiopathology; Cardiopulmonary reflex; Gene Expression - drug effects; Heart Rate - drug effects; Hypertension - etiology; Hypertension - immunology; Hypertension - physiopathology; IL-10; IL-6; Interleukin-10 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-10 - immunology; Interleukin-6 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-6 - immunology; Male; Nandrolone - adverse effects; Nandrolone - analogs & derivatives; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - genetics; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reflex - drug effects; Serotonin - pharmacology; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - etiology; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - immunology; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - physiopathology; TNF-α; Troponin I; Troponin I - genetics; Troponin I - metabolism; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Ventricular Remodeling - drug effects; Anabolic agents; TNF-α; Cardiopulmonary reflex; Troponin I; IL-10; IL-6
• ISSN: 0039-128X; 1878-5867
• DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2012.12.009

[Display omitted] ► AAS have been reported to elicit cardiovascular side effects when used as drug of abuse. ► ND determines cardiac cytokines imbalance reducing IL-10 and enhancing TNF-α and IL-6. ► Cardiac injury and BJR blunting induced by ND was demonstrated. ► ND treatment determines the development of hypertension. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of nandrolone (ND) on cardiac inflammatory cytokines, ACE activity, troponin I, and the sensitivity of the Bezold–Jarisch reflex (BJR). Male Wistar rats were administered either ND (20mg/kg; DECA) or vehicle (control animals; CONT) for 4weeks. BJR was analyzed by measuring the bradycardia and hypotension responses elicited by serotonin administration (2–32μg/kg). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was assessed and myocyte hypertrophy was determined by the heart weight/body weight ratio and by morphometric analysis. Matrix collagen deposition was assessed by histological analysis of the picrosirius red-stained samples. Mesenteric vascular reactivity was performed and central venous pressure (CVP) evaluated. Cardiac inflammatory cytokine levels and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity were studied as well the biomarker of cardiac lesion, troponin I. DECA group showed enhancement of matrix type I collagen deposition (p<0.01) and cardiac ACE activity (p<0.01) compared with the CONT. Interleukin (IL)-10 was reduced (p<0.01) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6; p<0.01) were increased in the DECA group compared with CONT. Cardiac injury was observed in the DECA group shown by the reduction in cardiac troponin I (p<0.01) compared with the CONT group. Animals in the DECA group also developed myocyte hypertrophy and reduction of BJR sensitivity. The MAP of animals treated with ND reached hypertensive levels (p<0.01; compared with CONT). No changes in CVP and vascular reactivity were observed in both experimental groups. We conclude that high doses of ND elicit cardiotoxic effects with cardiac remodelling and injury. Cardiac changes reduce the BJR sensitivity. Together, these abnormalities contributed to the development of hypertension in animals in the DECA group.