Does trenbolone or resistance exercise reverse hypogonadism induced bone and muscle loss?

• Main Author: McCoy, Sean C
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Aging; Kinesiology
• ISBN: 9781267116215; 1267116218

Supraphysiologic testosterone (T) administration attenuates high turnover osteopenia in orchiectomized (ORX) rats; however T may increase prostate mass. Trenbolone enanthate (TREN) is a highly anabolic synthetic T analogue, which is purported to result in less prostate enlargement than T. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if T, TREN, and weighted ladder climbing (EX) prevent muscle and bone loss, effect prostate mass, fat mass, bone hormone and hemoglobin concentrations, and Pax7 positive satellite cells. Fifty, 10 month old male F344/Brown Norway rats were randomized into SHAM, ORX, ORX+EX, ORX+T, and ORX+TREN groups. The prostate, retroperitoneal fat pad, flexor hallicus longus (FHL), semimembranosus (SEMI), soleus, plantaris and levator ani bulbocavernosus (LABC) muscles were removed and weighed. The FHL and SEMI were examined for Pax7 expression. Femurs were analyzed by pQCT, while tibiae were evaluated for bone hormone concentrations by EIA. Differences were evaluated using a One Way ANOVA with a Tukey’s post hoc. No significant change was observed in the mass of the FHL, SEMI, soleus or plantaris. However, significant increases were seen in the LABC and hemoglobin concentrations of T and TREN treated animals while both animals reduced retroperitoneal fat pad mass. ORX reduced trabecular and cortical bone density compared with SHAMs. EX did not prevent ORX-induced bone loss. Conversely, TREN and T and maintained tBMC, tBMD, and cBMD at control values. Both ORX groups, prostate masses were reduced by 71% compared to SHAMs. TREN caused nonsignificant 20% reductions in prostate mass compared with SHAM; while T nearly doubled prostate mass (p<0.05). Conclusions: T and TREN prevent some indices of hypogonadism-induced muscle and bone loss, and decreased visceral adiposity. Progressive resistance exercise offered no protection to muscle and bone. An added benefit of TREN was the maintenance of prostate mass at SHAM levels.