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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Morphological Sciences 2019; 36(02): 115-121
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1688809
Original Article
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Effects of Supraphysiological Doses of Testosterone Cypionate and Stanozolol on Neuronal Density of Basolateral and Medial Amygdala and on the Anxious Behavior of Mice

Melissa Ribeiro
1   Department of Anatomy, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
,
Ariane Freitas
1   Department of Anatomy, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
,
Bruno Damião
1   Department of Anatomy, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
,
Wagner Costa Rossi Junior
2   Departament of Morphology, Universidade José do Rosário Vellano, Unifenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
,
Flávia da Ré Guerra
1   Department of Anatomy, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
,
Evelise Aline Soares
1   Department of Anatomy, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
,
Petrus Pires Marques
2   Departament of Morphology, Universidade José do Rosário Vellano, Unifenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
,
Alessandra Esteves
1   Department of Anatomy, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

22 August 2018

28 March 2019

Publication Date:
14 June 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Supraphysiological doses of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) have been associated to possible nerve tissue damage and behavioral effects. Considering the lack of knowledge of the neural aspects involved in these behavioral alterations, this work aimed to analyze the anxious behavior response or aggressiveness, besides quantifying the neuronal density of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and of the ventral posterior nucleus (VPN) of the medial amygdala. The animals received doses of testosterone cypionate (CT Group) and stanozolol (ST Group) twice a week for 33 days. The effects of chronic administration of AAS related to anxious behavior (as determined by the elevated plus maze [EPM] test) in male animals are observed in a lower number of entries (< 45.25%), and a shorter staying time spent in the open arms (< 41.9%) was observed in the ST. In female animals, a longer staying time spent in the closed arms of the EPM test was observed in the CT (> 15%) as well as a shorter staying time spent in the open arms for CT (< 17.1%) also to ST (< 52.1%). Regarding the neuronal density in BLA, a significant reduction in neuronal density of male animals (17.55%) was observed only in CT, whereas for females, significant differences were found in CT (19.16%) and ST (18.36%). The reduction of neuronal density in VPN in male animals was 13.55% in CT and 17.68% in ST, whereas in group of females it was 13.53% and 14.32%, respectively for CT and ST. Therefore, the two steroids used in this experiment were able to significantly reduce neuronal density in two analyzed areas, regardless of sex, suggesting that indiscriminate use of these substances causes death of brain amygdala neurons.

Keywords

anabolic-androgenic steroids - basolateral amygdala - medial amygdala - anxiety - density neuron