Evaluation of liver alterations caused by the use of DECA and/or oxandrolone in young Wistar rats

• Grant number: 23/07097-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Márcia Regina Nagaoka
• Grantee: Vitor Pereira de Oliveira Pacheco
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently, there are numerous evidences regarding the use of Nandrolone Decanoate (DECA) in order to increase performance in resistance exercises and consequently increase the muscle mass index. It is known that the isolated use of DECA causes liver alterations, such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, steatosis and even cancer. However, when associated with physical exercise, such injuries seem to be reduced. Objective: to investigate the liver alterations caused by the use of DECA and/or oxandrolone in young Wistar rats. Methodology: Young Wistar rats (4-6 weeks old) will be submitted to a supraphysiological dose (10 mg/Kg/week) of DECA (Schering-plough), diluted in peanut oil, intramuscularly, and/or a supratherapeutic dose of oxandrolone (37, 5 mg/kg/day), by gavage, for 4 weeks. The respective control groups will receive the drug vehicles in the same way as the treated group. At the end of treatment, a behavioral assessment will be performed and after 24 hours, isolated liver perfusion will be performed to assess liver viability and carbohydrate metabolism. Liver viability will be measured by glucose release, bile secretion and BSP clearance. Glucose metabolism will be evaluated by analyzing glycogenolysis by measuring glycogen and the respective release of glucose in the well-fed state and gluconeogenesis by releasing glucose in the fasting state. Liver samples will be taken and processed for further histological evaluation.