The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Over the past several decades it has been known that there are an increase in the prevalence of anabolic steroid use by
athletes. The pathophysiology and prognosis of anabolic-androgenic steroid use remains unclear. The aim of this
study is to investigate the histological toxic effects of nandrolone decanoate on the kidney of male rabbits. 21 rabbits
were divided into three groups; each consists of 7 animals. The control group was injected with normal saline. Group
(І) received 2mg/kg body weight, and group (П) received 6mg/kg body weight. Animals received the dose weekly for
2 months duration. There was an increase in the weights of kidney of group (П) compared to other groups. The
histological pattern of the kidney of group(І) was nearly normal, while kidney of group (П) showed more severe
pathological damage which includes enlargement and hypercellularity including the mesangial cells of the renal
glomerular tuft with narrowing of Bowman's capsule. Vacuolar degeneration of the lining epithelium of the proximal
convoluted tubules and some tubules showed sloughing and necrosis of the epithelial cells. These results showed that
nandrolone decanoate had histological toxic effects on the kidney of rabbits.