الفهرس 
HISTOLOGY OF THE SKELETAL MUSCLE
Satellite cells of the skeletal muscle fibersOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 32 |  |  |
| | | from | 32 | | |
Abstract
Background: Nandrolone decanoate is one of androgenic
anabolic steroids (AAS). It is used by athletes in supraphysiological doses to enhance muscle performance.
Recently, researches reported that training produced
beneficial dynamic changes in skeletal muscles in contrary to
AAS.
Aim of the work: to investigate the local effect of nandrolone
on the structure of the skeletal muscle of rats subjected to
physical exercise.
Materials and methods: Forty-two adult male albino rats of
average weight 150-200 gms were divided into five groups,
group I: a control group, group II: rats were injected in the
right gastrocnemius muscle with nandrolone (5mg/kg twice
weekly for six weeks), group III: a training group that
performed a specified training program (swimming 5
days/week for six weeks), group IV: a steroid and training
group that were injected with nandrolone and performed the
training program and group V: a Recovery group that were
treated as group IV but the rats were left to recover for four
weeks. The right gastrocnemius muscles were dissected out
and processed for light and electron microscopic examination.
Morphometric measurements and statistical analysis were
performed.
Results: Splitting of the muscle fibers, mononuclear cellular
infiltration, congested blood vessels and significant increase in
the interstitial tissue collagen were observed in rats of both
groups II and IV. Separation between the myofibrils, loss of
2
myofilaments, dilated cisternae of sER, distorted sarcomeres
with disruption of the Z lines and mitochondrial damage were
detected in both groups. In rats of group III there was
significant muscle fiber hypertrophy, increased glycogen
content and decreased interstitial tissue collagen. By EM,
their myofibrils showed regular sarcomeres with an apparent
increase in the number of mitochondria. Most of the fibers of
recovery group were nearly similar to the control group.
Conclusion: Nandrolone induced reversible degenerative
changes in the muscle fibers. Physical exercise could minimize
the harmful effect of nandrolone on the structure of the
skeletal muscle.
Keywords: Anabolic steroids, physical exercise, skeletal
muscle, albino rat.