Submitted on November 15, 2006
Accepted on September 25, 2007
Anabolic Steroids Induce Cardiac Renin Angiotensin System and Impair the Beneficial Effects of Aerobic Training in Rats
Fernando Lima Rocha1, Everton Crivoi Carmo2, Fernanda Roberta Roque3, Nara Yumi Hashimoto3, Luciana Venturini Rossoni4, Clovis Frimm5, Ivy Aneas6, Carlos Eduardo Negrao7, Jose E. Krieger, and Edilamar Menezes Oliveira8*
1 School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2 Biochemistry of Locomotor Activity Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
3 School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; , Brazil
4 Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; , Brazil
5 University of Sao Paulo Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; , Brazil
6 Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; , Brazil
7 Unid Reabilit Cardiovasc e Fisiol do Exerc, Heart Institute (InCor), University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; , Brazil
8 Biochemistry of Locomotor Activity Laboratory, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; , Brazil
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: edilamar{at}usp.br.
We evaluated the effects of swimming and anabolic steroids (AS) on ventricular function, collagen synthesis, and the local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomized into Control(C), Steroid(S, nandrolone decanoate; 5mg/kg, sc, 2x/week), SL(Steroid+Losartan-20mg/Kg/day), Trained(T), Trained+Steroid(T+S) and Trained+Steroid+Losartan(T+SL; n=14/group) groups. Swimming was performed 5 times/wk/10weeks. Serum testosterone increased in S and T+S. Resting HR was lower in T and T+S. Percentage change in LV weight:body weight ratio increased in S, T, and T+S. LV systolic pressure declined in S and T+S. LV contractility increased in T (P<0.05). LV relaxation increased in T (P<0.05). It was significantly lower in T+S compared with C. CVF and hydroxyproline were higher in S and T+S than in C and T (P<0.05) and the CVF and LV hypertrophy were prevented by losartan treatment. LV-ACE activity increased (28%) in the S group, and (33%) and type III collagen synthesis (56%) in T+S but not in T group. A positive correlation existed between LV-ACE activity and collagen type III expression (r2=0.88; P<0.05, for all groups). The AngII and AT1a receptor expression increased in the S and T+S groups but not in T group. Supraphysiological doses of AS exacerbated the cardiac hypertrophy in exercise-trained rats. Exercise training associated with AS induces maladaptive remodeling and further deterioration in cardiac performance. Exercise training associated with AS causes loss of the beneficial effects in LV function induced by exercising. These results suggest that aerobic exercise plus AS increases cardiac collagen content associated with activation of the local RAS.
