Comparative in vivo and in vitro hepato-toxicity studies for oral anabolic steroids abused in sports

ABSTRACT

Studies on hepatotoxicity of anabolic- androgenic steroids in experimental animals and in controlled clinical studies were based on the use of doses at substantially lower level than those practiced by the abusers. the aim of this study was to investigate acute hepatotoxic effects after administration of suprapharmacological doses to experimental animals as well as to isolated hepatocytes suspension to reflect any hepatic dysfunction caused by anabolic steroid abuse. Male adult albino rats were administered daily oral doses of methyltestosterone [175mg/Kg], testosterone-undecanoate [420 mg/Kg], and their combination for 7 days. In vivo results showed significant increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and lactate dehydrognease [LDU]. While both steroids did not affect serum levels of alanine aminotransferase [ALT], thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], reduced glutathione levels and total protein, when administered either individually or in combination. Leakage of ALT, AST and LDH was observed in any vitro studies in addition to increase in TBARS content. All treatments did not result in any significant difference in reduced glutathione content compared to the respective control. Histopathological examination of the liver revealed inflammatory and degenerative lesions in addition to focal necrosis. The histopathological findings confirm the biochemical studies [both in vivo and in vitro] and show clear toxic manifestations of suprapharmacological doses of theses anabolies on the liver