Increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis during testosterone administration in rabbits

ABSTRACT

The effects of non-physician prescribed, self-obtained and self- administered exogenous androgenic steroid testosterone on serum total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C, LDL-C], triacylglycerols, glucose [fasting and after 2 hr of an oral glucose load], insulin, total testosterone and gonadotropic hormones were evaluated in rabbits. Testosterone propionate [TP] was administered to male rabbits at a dose level of 25 mg intramuscular body wt/week for 6 weeks. A statistically significant increase [P < 0.05] in serum levels of total cholesterol, triacylgycerols, LDL-C, insulin, total testosterone, glucose [after 2 hr.], body wt., as well as a significant decrease in HDL-C and gonadortopic hormones [FSH, LH] were observed in drug treated animals than in control group. These results suggest that [TP] administration at a massive dose has an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis