Effects of nandrolone decanoate on the viability of muscle satellite cells during the differentiation process

Abstract

| Studies indicate that the anabolic nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin®) can modulate cell cycle regulation, but little is known about its effects on muscle cells. Anabolic steroids are used, especially by athletes, to improve muscle mass and performance in the practice of exercises. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the anabolic Deca-Durabolin® on the proliferation of skeletal muscle precursor cells C2C12. Cells were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), being supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and subjected to differentiation by the addition of 2% horse serum. They were incubated with anabolic at concentrations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 µM. The groups that received no anabolic or vehicle served as controls. The viability (proliferation) was evaluated by the MTT method (3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; Thiazolyl blue) after one, three and five days of incubation. Three independent experiments were performed in each of the mentioned conditions, and the results were submitted to statistical analysis with significance level of p≤0.05 (ANOVA/Dunnett). Results showed no difference in viability between muscle cells treated with anabolic and the control cultures in all parameters. In conclusion, nandrolone, at the used concentrations, was not able to alter the viability of muscle C2C12 satellite cells. Keywords | Anabolic; Athletes; Muscle Cells; Nandrolone; Cell Proliferation; Cell Differentiation.resumo | Os anabolizantes são utilizados, especialmente por atletas, com o intuito de aumento da massa muscular e melhora do desempenho. Este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito do anabolizante Deca-Durabolin® sobre a viabilidade (proliferação) de células satélites musculares C2C12 induzidas à diferenciação, mimetizando o processo de reparo após lesão. As células foram cultivadas em Meio Eagle Modificado por Dulbecco (DMEM) suplementado com 10% de Soro Fetal Bovino (SFB) e submetidas à diferenciação pela adição de 2% de soro de cavalo e concomitantemente incubadas com o anabolizante nas concentrações de 5, 10, 25 e 50 µM. Os grupos que não receberam o anabolizante nem o veículo serviram como controle. A viabilidade (proliferação) foi avaliada após um, três e cinco dias, utilizando o método de MTT (3-[4,5-dimetiltriazol-2-il]-2,5 difeniltetrazólio). Foram realizados três experimentos independentes, em cada condição citada, e os resultados submetidos à análise estatística com nível de significância de p≤0,05% (ANOVA/Dunnet). Os resultados permitiram verificar que não houve diferença na viabilidade entre células musculares tratadas com o anabolizante e induzidas à diferenciação e as culturas

Effect of Anabolic Steroids on the Cardiac and Skeletal Muscles of Adult Male Rats

“…During the process of fusion, some myonuclei may remain in the central area of the out coming new and larger fiber. This central myonuclei is needed for the growth of the new fiber when new myotubes unite with the already existing muscle fiber [30,34,37].…”