Efeito da nandrolona sobre a morfofisiologia e imunohistoquímica do útero e ovários de ratas

Abstract

The high incidence of the use of anabolic steroids in the last decades, have surpassed the sporting resources / competitions, and they have also been used by recreational athletes and women who use it for aesthetic purposes, aiming at increasing lean mass and reducing subcutaneous fat. Studies, however, have shown that the administration of these anabolics has resulted in adverse effects on various physiological systems. Due to the lack of research on alterations in the female reproductive organs and their effect on proinflammatory cytokines, this research investigated possible alterations or effects caused by the supraphysiological use of nandrolone on the morphology and immunohistochemistry of the uterus and ovaries, as well as its effect on the fertility of Wistar rats. Thirty albino rats of the wistar line, 60 days old and weighing approximately ± 190g, were divided in three experimental groups: control (C), control vehicle (CV) and treatment-steroid (TE), containing ten animals each. The animals of the TE group underwent subcutaneous injections, 5 days / week, for 30 days at the concentration of 5 mg / kg of nandrolone in 1 mL / kg of propylene glycol. Animals of the control group (C) and control vehicle (CV) were submitted to the same conditions of the TE group, except for the absence of the steroid. The morphology of the uterus and ovaries of five females of each group was analyzed by the hematoxylin-Eosin staining technique (H.E). Organosomal index, hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone), estrous cyclicity and immunohistochemistry (TNFα, IL6, VEGF and apoptosis) were also evaluated. The remaining rats of these groups were used for fertility evaluation. The results showed that there was a reduction of the organosomal index in the ovaries and an increase of this factor in the uterus, as well as an increase in the body weight of rats submitted to the steroid alone. These same rats presented a permanent estrous condition, reduction of serum levels of estrogens and progesterone. Morphological analysis also revealed ovaries without corpora lutea, enlargement of tertiary follicles, and in the uterus significant reduction of lumen and more developed endometrial glands. Quantification of the expression for cytokines TNFα and IL6 revealed significant increase in the ovaries and uterus of the steroid treated rats. Regarding VEGF, there was an increase in its expression in the ovaries of rats treated with the steroid, however this factor decreased in the uterus. The ovaries and uterus of these rats showed a significant increase in the apoptotic index. Thus, it is concluded that the adverse effects of nandrolone in the female reproductive tract may be related to its interference in the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the normal apoptotic process.