The effects of 17α-methyltestosterone, methandrostenolone, and nandrolone decanoate on the rat estrous cycle

In a series of four separate experiments, the effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) compounds on the estrous cycle of adult Long-Evans rats were examined. Sexual receptivity, vaginal cytology, and body weight were monitored throughout a 2-week baseline, AAS treatment, and recovery periods. In...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiology & behavior 1997-02, Vol.61 (2), p.265-272
Main Authors: BLASBERG, M. E, LANGAN, C. J, CLARK, A. S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anabolic Agents - pharmacology
Animals
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Body Weight - drug effects
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Estrus - drug effects
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hormones and behavior
Methandrostenolone - pharmacology
Methyltestosterone - pharmacology
Nandrolone - analogs & derivatives
Nandrolone - pharmacology
Nandrolone Decanoate
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Rats
Sexual Behavior, Animal - drug effects
Testosterone Congeners - pharmacology
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Summary:In a series of four separate experiments, the effects of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) compounds on the estrous cycle of adult Long-Evans rats were examined. Sexual receptivity, vaginal cytology, and body weight were monitored throughout a 2-week baseline, AAS treatment, and recovery periods. In Experiments 1-3, subjects were administered 17 alpha-methyltestosterone, methandrostenolone, or nandrolone decanoate at doses selected to mimic the human abuse levels of each compound. In these studies, the highest doses of 17 alpha-methyltestosterone (7.5 mg/kg) and nandrolone decanoate (5.6 mg/kg) disrupted behavioral and vaginal cyclicity, whereas the highest dose of methandrostenolone (3.75 mg/kg) appeared to have slightly less robust effects. To compare effects on estrous cyclicity across AAS compounds, subjects in Experiment 4 received a single high dose (7.5 mg/kg) of each compound for 2 weeks. At this dose, all AAS compounds interfered with vaginal cyclicity, although effects on behavioral cyclicity and uterine weight were not uniform. Across all 4 experiments, AAS effects on body weight were minimal. The short-term administration of AAS compounds at levels commonly used by humans disrupts female neuroendocrine function in a dose-dependent manner.
ISSN:0031-9384
1873-507X
DOI:10.1016/S0031-9384(96)00409-X