Immediate and late effects of supraphysiological doses of nandrolone decanoate on the testis of rats

TL;DR

This study shows that high doses of nandrolone decanoate cause harmful and lasting changes in rat testes.

Contribution

The study reveals that the negative effects of nandrolone decanoate on testicular structure persist long after treatment ends.

Findings

Nandrolone decanoate immediately reduces seminiferous tubule area and epithelium height in rats.

The effects on testicular weight, volume, and structure worsen 12 weeks after treatment ends.

Supraphysiological doses cause significant and lasting testicular damage in rats.

Abstract

To investigate the effects of supraphysiologic doses of nandrolone decanoate on the testicular morphology of rats and if these effects could be transitory or permanent.

Twenty-five male rats were divided in four groups. C28 and C40 were control rats killed with 28 and 40 weeks old, respectively; and T28 and T40 were treated with nandrolone decanoate (10 mg/kg) and killed immediately after the treatment (T28) or 12 weeks after the end of treatment (T40). The testis weight and volume were measured, and the seminiferous tubule area and epithelium height were assessed by histomorphometric methods.

The seminiferous tubules area and epithelium height of group T28 were reduced in comparison to C28. Group T40 showed reduced testicular weight and volume, as well as seminiferous tubule area and epithelium height in comparison to C40.

The use of nandrolone decanoate promotes major structural modifications on the testes of rats. These modifications are even worse 12 weeks after ending the use of the anabolic androgenic steroid.

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