The impact of exogenic testosterone and nortestosterone-decanoate toxicological evaluation using a rat model

PLoS One. 2014 Oct 10;9(10):e109219. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109219. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The impact of exogenic testosterone (T): 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg.bw) and 19-nortestosterone 17-decanoate (ND): 1.5 and 7.5 mg/kg.bw) in castrated male rats was evaluated based on: (a) weight increase of the androgen target tissues, respecting the Hershberger methodology; (b) the 17α and β-testosterone, 17 α and β-estradiol and 17 α and β-nortestosterone levels using the GC-MS/MS technique; and (c) observation of the serum free thyroxine levels (T4). Results revealed that T and ND significantly increased the weight of androgen target tissues as follows: ND was more influential on seminal vesicles, levator ani-bulbocavernosus muscle (LABC) and Cowper's glands and T (at a dose of 3.0 mg/kg.bw) influenced the weight of the ventral prostate and glans penis. Serum samples analyzed for steroid hormone levels showed the presence of 17β-testosterone, 17β-estradiol and 17β-nor-testosterone, in castrated male rats injected with testosterone and nortestosterone, but no significant differences were found between thyroid responses and thyroid hormone levels. The results of this research proved the disrupting activity of T and ND when administered in high doses and the useful application of the Hershberger bioassay in the case of ND.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Castration
  • Hormones / blood
  • Male
  • Nandrolone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Nandrolone / toxicity
  • Nandrolone Decanoate
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Testosterone / toxicity*

Substances

  • Hormones
  • Testosterone
  • Nandrolone
  • Nandrolone Decanoate

Grants and funding

The study was possible due to grant POSDRU/6/1.5/S/21, Project ID 6540, “Pilot Programme for the Support of Scholarship PhD Students Research.” The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.