Histological and immunohistochemical studies of the effects of administration of anabolic androgenic steroids alone and in concomitant with training exercise on the adult male rats skeletal muscles

Background: Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS ) abuse is considered as a public issue as a result of their widespread use to enhance muscular building .Aim of the work: The aim of the study is to clarify the hazards effects that occurred in the skeletal muscles of adult male albino rats as a result of administration of Nandrolone Decanoate histologically as well as immunohistochemically and the possible role of the interaction between (AAS) and training exercise . Materials and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were divided randomly into four groups; group I (control group ) , group II (steroids treated group ), group III (trained group ) and group IV (steroid treated-trained group) . Both groups II and IV were administered 5 mg/kg body weight, of Nandrolone Decanoate twice a week by intramuscular injection for 5weeks. Group III and Group IV were subjected to training protocol in the form of 4 sets of 10 jumps into water for 5 weeks . At the end of the experiments the rats were sacrificed and their quadriceps muscles were processed for histological and immunohistochemically procedures .Results: Group II (steroid treated group) had hypertrophy of muscle fibers and disrupted striations with wide spacing between them. In addition to areas of degeneration and congested blood vessels. Group III had hypertrophy of muscle fibers. Group IV exhibited normal histological appearance of the muscle fibers. Minute areas of focal degeneration and congested blood vessels were observed.Conclusion: Administration of (AAS) was presented with noticeable degenerative changes in the quadriceps muscles of the adult male albino rats . These hazards effects could be attenuated in the group of rats that were subjected to (AAS) in concomitant with training exercise.