Attenuated β-adrenoceptor-mediated cardiac contractile responses following androgenic steroid administration to sedentary rats

Abstract

Androgenic steroids administered in doses at pharmacological levels to sedentary animals have been shown to result in a reduced beta-adrenoceptor-mediated increase in systolic cardiac performance when assessed in vivo. Whether the attenuated adrenergic response occurs as a consequence of alterations in either cardiac loads, heart rate, modifications in left ventricular (LV) geometry, or a decrease in myocardial contractile performance has not been determined. In this study the effect of chronic administration (over 3 months) of an androgenic steroid (nandrolone decanoate, 5 mg. kg(-1) biweekly) on the response of load-insensitive indices of myocardial contractile function [the slope of the LV systolic stress-strain relationship (LV-E(n)(max), where E(n)(max) is systolic myocardial elastance)] to an adrenergic-inotropic stimulus was examined ex vivo in paced rat hearts. Systolic cardiac performance was assessed at 300 beats. min(-1) in isolated constant flow perfused heart preparations both before and during 10(-8.5) mol. l(-1) isoproterenol (ISO) infusion (approximate concentration of ISO eliciting 50% maximal inotropic response to ISO). Steroid administration resulted in left-shifted LV systolic and diastolic pressure-volume (P-V ) relationships. The leftshifted P-V relationships were attributed, in part, to increased slopes of these relationships. However, the steroid-mediated increment in the slope of the systolic P-V relationship (systolic chamber elastance, E(max)) was not associated with a similar change in LV E(n)(max) [control 19.2 (SEM 2.1) g. cm(-2), steroid 18.3 (SEM 2.4) g. cm(-2)] as determined in the absence of ISO. Isoproterenol infusion resulted in an increase in both E(max) and E(n)(max) in the control rats, without altering systolic performance in the steroid treated rats. Consequently, in the presence of ISO, the steroid treated rats exhibited a similar E(max), but a reduction in E(n)(max) compared to the control rats [control 25.6 (SEM 1.9) g. cm(-2), steroid 18.5 (SEM 1.5) g. cm(-2); P < 0.05]. In conclusion, these results would suggest that chronic high dose androgenic steroid administration produces a decrease in myocardial contractile reserve to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation.

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Effects of Nandrolone Decanoate on Spermatogenesis in Wistar Rats With and Without Physical Training

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Uso crônico de decanoato de nandrolona como fator de risco para hipertensão arterial pulmonar em ratos Wistar

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