Cardiac effects of high dose androgenic steroid administration.
Date
1998
Authors
Trifunovic, Boris
Journal Title
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Abstract
Androgenic steroids are commonly used at supraphysiological doses by
athletes and body builders. There are an increasing number of reports of sudden
cardiac death and myocardial infarcts associated with androgenic steroid abuse. In
this thesis the effect of an androgenic steroid on cardiac mechanical performance,
cellular function and interstitial properties was examined in rats.
A biweekly intramuscular injection of nandrolone decanoate (5 mg/kg)
(steroid) for three months to sedentary rats supressed testosterone production.
Chronic steroid administration increased left ventricular end diastolic (LVED)
chamber stiffness (k). as determined both ill vivo in anaesthetised, open-chest
animals. using piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers to measure LV dimensions, as well
as ex vivo, using an isolated, perfused, constant flow, isovolumic LV preparation.
The increased LVED chamber k was attributed to changes in myocardial properties.
as myocardial ED k was also increased. The altered L ED chamber performance
mediated by chronic steroid administration subsequently resulted in a decreased slope
of the LV stroke work-LVEDP relation (determined in vivo), a preload-independent
index of LV systolic performance. however, load-insensitive indices of LV systolic
performance, assessed both in vivo and ex vivo (slopes of LV end systolic or peak
systolic pressure-dimension. pressure-volume and stress-strain relations) were either
modestly increased or unchanged following steroid administration. (Abbreviation abstract)
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Keywords
Heart Function Tests., Anabolic Steroids adverse effects.