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The anabolic androgenic steroid, nandrolone decanoate, increases the density of Fos-like immunoreactive neurons in limbic regions of guinea-pig brain.
- Source :
-
The European journal of neuroscience [Eur J Neurosci] 2002 Feb; Vol. 15 (3), pp. 539-44. - Publication Year :
- 2002
-
Abstract
- The increased abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids is a major concern because of physiological and psychological side-effects. In some individuals they induce dramatic behavioural changes such as increased aggression, anxiety and depression. The mechanisms behind these behavioural changes are still poorly understood. In order to obtain information on the brain regions affected by anabolic androgenic steroids, the distribution of neurons containing c-Fos, the protein product of the immediate early gene c-fos, and Fos-related antigens was studied following chronic treatment of guinea-pigs with a high dose of nandrolone decanoate (15 mg/kg i.m. daily for 14 days). The behaviour of the guinea-pigs was monitored for 1 h each day. Animals treated with nandrolone exhibited a significantly greater incidence of biting behaviour during the 14 day treatment period than vehicle-treated animals. A significantly greater density of c-Fos and Fos-related antigen-positive neurons was found in the central nucleus of the amygdala, and of Fos-related antigen-positive neurons in the frontal cortex, the shell of the nucleus accumbens and the supraoptic nucleus in nandrolone-treated animals than in vehicle controls. Therefore, nandrolone induced Fos in brain regions involved in stress, behavioural responses and reward. The increased Fos expression in these limbic brain regions is of particular interest in relation to the behavioural changes reported in humans who abuse anabolic androgenic steroids and the abuse potential of these drugs.
- Subjects :
- Aggression physiology
Anger drug effects
Anger physiology
Animals
Behavior, Animal physiology
Drug Administration Schedule
Guinea Pigs
Immunohistochemistry
Limbic System cytology
Limbic System metabolism
Male
Neurons cytology
Neurons metabolism
Up-Regulation drug effects
Up-Regulation physiology
Aggression drug effects
Anabolic Agents pharmacology
Behavior, Animal drug effects
Limbic System drug effects
Nandrolone pharmacology
Neurons drug effects
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0953-816X
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The European journal of neuroscience
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11876781
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0953-816x.2001.01877.x