Hamed, D., Anwar, R., Abdelmalek, A., mostafa, T. (2023). Morphometric and Histological Pattern of Recovery of Adult Rat Gastrocnemius Muscle Exposed to 8-Week Anabolic Steroid Administration and Similar Period of Drug Stoppage. Egyptian Journal of Histology, 46(4), 1652-1665. doi: 10.21608/ejh.2022.150295.1723
Doaa Hamed; Rasha Ibrahim Anwar; Adel Abdelmalek; tarik mostafa. "Morphometric and Histological Pattern of Recovery of Adult Rat Gastrocnemius Muscle Exposed to 8-Week Anabolic Steroid Administration and Similar Period of Drug Stoppage". Egyptian Journal of Histology, 46, 4, 2023, 1652-1665. doi: 10.21608/ejh.2022.150295.1723
Hamed, D., Anwar, R., Abdelmalek, A., mostafa, T. (2023). 'Morphometric and Histological Pattern of Recovery of Adult Rat Gastrocnemius Muscle Exposed to 8-Week Anabolic Steroid Administration and Similar Period of Drug Stoppage', Egyptian Journal of Histology, 46(4), pp. 1652-1665. doi: 10.21608/ejh.2022.150295.1723
Hamed, D., Anwar, R., Abdelmalek, A., mostafa, T. Morphometric and Histological Pattern of Recovery of Adult Rat Gastrocnemius Muscle Exposed to 8-Week Anabolic Steroid Administration and Similar Period of Drug Stoppage. Egyptian Journal of Histology, 2023; 46(4): 1652-1665. doi: 10.21608/ejh.2022.150295.1723
Morphometric and Histological Pattern of Recovery of Adult Rat Gastrocnemius Muscle Exposed to 8-Week Anabolic Steroid Administration and Similar Period of Drug Stoppage
1assistant lecturer in anatomy department faculty of medicine, assiut university
2Department of human anatomy and embryology-Faculty of medicine-Assiut university-Assiut-Egypt
3Department: Human anatomy Faculty: medicine University: Assiut City: Assiut Country: Egypt
4anatomy department faculty of medicine assiut university
Abstract
Introduction: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) were first used by athletes involved in pursuits of strength, young men interested in enhancing their appearance. There is a scarcity in studies that investigated long term effect of anabolic steroids on skeletal muscles. Objectives: The current study elucidates morphometric and histological changes of the gastrocnemius (GAS) muscle of albino rats injected by supratheraputic dose of nandrolone and investigate the possible reversibility of these changes after drug stoppage. Material and Methods: Rats were classified into 3 groups; group I (control group, 20 rats) received no treatments with 2 subgroups A and B: I A to be sacrificed after 8 weeks and I B to be sacrificed after 16 weeks. Group II (treated, 10 rats) received nandrolone by intramuscular injection of 10 mg/kg body weight twice weekly for 8 weeks. III (recovery group, 10 rats) received the same dose of nandrolone for 8 weeks and then sacrificed 8-weeks after stoppage of treatment. The GAS muscle was removed, inspected, weighed and processed for light and electron microscopic examinations, and evaluation of apoptosis by caspase- 3 immunohistochemistry. Results: GAS muscle of the treated group II exhibit hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis. Muscle fibers present sarcoplasmic degeneration. Dislocation of myonuclei is a conspicuous finding, they appear bizarre and clustering. Activation of satellite cells is presumed by nuclear lobulation and chromatin clumbings in preparation of cellular proliferation. Satellite cells detach from their positon toward the dislocated damaged myonuclei as a step leading to regeneration. Group III shows signs of regeneration in the form of decrease collagen fibers and decrease apoptosis. Conclusion: There are signs of incomplete recovery skeletal muscles of group III after 8-week stoppage of AAS abuse. Dislocation and internalization of myonuclei and satellite cell proliferation and migration could be considered signs of regeneration after stoppage of the insulting drug.