الفهرس 
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Abstract
The heart is a muscular organ in humans and other animals, which
pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. Blood
provides the body with oxygen and nutrients, as well as assists in the
removal of metabolic wastes.
Heart diseases have risen steadily over the last century, especially
in industrialized countries, due to changes in diet, lifestyle and abuse of
many drugs. Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death
globally as of 2008, accounting for 30% of death.
Anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic derivatives of
testosterone and they are structurally related and have similar effects in
the body as testosterone. Nandrolone decanoate (19-nortestosterone) is
one of the most popular AAS among athletes because of its anabolic
effect.
Vitamin E refers to a group of compounds that include both
tocopherols and tocotrienols. Clinically, vitamin E is used to prevent and
repair cell and tissue damage during the radiation therapy. Alpha
tocopherol is an important lipid –soluble antioxidant. As it is fat –soluble,
it is incorporated into the cell membrane, which protects it from oxidative
damage. Vitamin E performs its function as antioxidant in the glutathione
peroxidase pathway. It protects the cells from oxidation by reacting with
lipid radicals produced in the lipid peroxidation chain reaction. So
vitamin E removes the free radical intermediates and prevent the
oxidation reaction from continuing.
This work was designed to focus on the histological and
histochemical changes induced by nandrolone on the cardiac muscle of
adult male albino rats and to clarify the possible protective effect of
vitamin E.
Material and Methods
Fifty adult male albino rats weighing about 175- 225 gm were used in
our study. The animals were randomly divided into four groups as
follows:
•group I (control group): included 10 animals, half of them
received no treatment (IA) while the other half received corn oil
daily orally (IB).
•group II (vitamin E treated group): Included 10 animals which
receive vitamin E at a dose of 400mg/kg/day orally by modified
plastic syringe for four weeks.
•group III (Nandrolone – Treated group):
Included 20 rats to which nandrolone was given by intra-muscular
injection at a dose of 10 mg/kg/week for four weeks. Half of rats were
sacrificed 24 hour after the last injection (Subgroup IIIA).
While the other half were left for two weeks after arrest of
nandrolone treatment then sacrificed (Subgroup IIIB).
•group IV (Nandrolone and Vitamin E-treated group):
Composed of 10 rats, each was given nandrolone and vitamin E
simultaneously at a dose similar to the previous groups.
At the end of each detected period, the animals were anaesthetized
then sacrificed. The thoracic cavity was opened, exposing the heart,
which was then excised. Half of the cardiac muscles were fixed in 10%
formal saline and paraffin sections were prepared and stained by
(Haematoxylin and eosin stain, Masson’s trichrome stain and
Periodic Acid Schiff’s reaction) for light microscopic study (L/M) and
the other half were fixed in 1% glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer for
Electron Microscopic Study (E/M).
Results and Conclusion:
The following data have been observed in the present study:
General appearance of animals:
All animals of the control group and vitamin E treated groups were in
a good general condition and showed a normal behaviour in acitivity,
eating and growth. Animals treated with nandrolone for four weeks
showed decreased activity and progressive diminution in their
appetites. Some animals became morbid and weak during the
experiment. While the animals left two weeks after arrest of
nandrolone treatment, gradually regained their activity at the end of
the experiment. Animals treated with nandrolone plus vitamin E were
in a somewhat good general condition and had a moderate appetite
compared with the nandrolone treated group.
group I (Control group):
Concerning the histological study: Sections of this group showed
normal histological architecture of the cardiac muscle with centrally
located oval basophilic nuclei and transverse striations. These
transverse striations are due to the presence of longitudinally arranged
myofibrils formed by alternating dark bands called A bands and light
bands called I bands. Mitochondria are arranged in rows between the
myofibrils. These cardiac muscle fibers are connected together by
inter-calated disc which has a step like pattern. Delicate connective
tissue (endomysium) surrounds the cardiac muscle fibers with small
amount of collagen fibers.
Concerning the histochemical study: The non treated control rats
showed mild PAS positive reaction of the cardiac muscle fibers group II (Vitamin E – treated group):
Concerning the histological study: Sections of this group showed
the well known histological picture of rat myocardium with normal
amount of collagen fibers in the endomysium.
Concerning the histochemical study: There was a weak to mild
PAS positive reaction of the cardiac muscle fibers.
group III (Nandrolone – Treated group):
Concerning the histological study: Sections of subgroup IIIA
showed loss of normal architecture of cardiac muscle fibers that take a
wavy appearance. These fibers showed pyknotic eccentric nuclei and loss
of striation. Fragmented fibers with disorganized intercalated disc and
obvious vacuolation were seen. Abundance of necrotic areas surrounded
by fragmented and degenerated fibers were markedly seen. The
sarcoplasmic reticulum and T- tubules were dilated. Mitochondria with
ruptured membranes (moth eaten appearance) and ruptured cristae were
also detected. The connective tissue endomysium appeared widened with
dilated congested blood vessels and marked amount of collagen fibers.
While sections of Subgroup IIIB showed improvement of some cardiac
muscle fibers while others show focal areas of necrosis and pyknotic
nuclei. Some of the myofibrils restored their normal appearance, but most
of them were still degenerated. There is also abnormal distribution of the
mitochondria which appeared degenerated. The intercalated disc was still
disorganized Abnormal nucleus with peripheral condensed chromatin was
also seen. The endomysium inbetween the fibers was widened with
moderate amount of collagen fibers.
Concerning the histochemical study: Sub group IIIA showed
strong PAS positive reaction in most cardiac muscle fibers and weak
reaction in some degenerated fibers. While (Subgroup IIIB) showed
moderate to strong PAS positive reaction of the cardiac muscle fibers.
group IV (Nandrolone and Vitamin E-treated group):
Concerning the histological study: Sections of this group showed
a noticeable protection of myofibers against the deleterious changes
induced by nandrolone. The myocardium architecture is more or less
normal with tiny vacuoles appearing in some muscle fibers. Most of
nuclei appeared vesicular but few pyknotic nuclei are still seen in few
fibers. Also intercalated disc appeared disorganized in some areas. The
connective tissue endomysium is slightly widened with mild amount of
collagen fibers.
Concerning the histochemical study: There was moderate PAS
positive reaction of the cardiac muscle fibers.
from the foregoing, it is concluded that chronic administration of
supra physiological doses of nandrolone resulted in marked histological
and histochemical changes on rat cardiac muscle. These changes were
partially reversible after cessation of treatment. Co-administration of
vitamin E with nandrolone had marked protective effect. So, we
recommend that nandrolone must be used under clinical supervision
especially in the young misinformed athletes. Vitamin E supplementation
with nandrolone is also advised to minimize its adverse effects on the
cardiac muscle.