Nandrolone and stanozolol damage bodybuilders' DNA
A couple of days ago we wrote about an animal study in which a one-time injection of nandrolone decanoate caused genetic damage. Now mice are not men and genetic damage is nothing like cancer, but a 2010 Brazilian study has shown that
humans can also damage their genes by using steroids.
The researchers studied 15 young men who did weight training four times a week and used anabolic steroids. The men took a four-week course and in that period ??? according to the researchers ??? injected 50 mg nandrolone decanoate and took 18 mg stanozolol three times a week. [Yes, that's what it says. Maybe they recorded it incorrectly.]
A control group of 15 bodybuilders took no steroids. Another control group of 20 young men did no training and took no steroids either.
Two months after the steroids course the researchers took cheek swabs from each test subject, taking samples of 2000 cells. Then the researchers examined the samples under a microscope to determine how many of the cells showed signs of genetic damage. The Brazilians recorded the number of cells with pyknosis [genetic material in the cell condenses], karyolysis [genetic material dissolves] and karyorrhexis [genetic material fragments].
The researchers also counted the number of micronucleated cells: cells with an extra small nucleus. These nuclei contain 'too much' DNA and make extra nuclei out of this. The photo below shows a micronucleated cell.
The more micronucleated cells in a sample, and the more cells with pyknosis, karyolysis or karyorrhexis, the greater the chance of cancer developing, scientists believe.
A couple of days ago we wrote about an animal study in which a one-time injection of nandrolone decanoate caused genetic damage. Now mice are not men and genetic damage is nothing like cancer, but a 2010 Brazilian study has shown that
humans can also damage their genes by using steroids.
The researchers studied 15 young men who did weight training four times a week and used anabolic steroids. The men took a four-week course and in that period ??? according to the researchers ??? injected 50 mg nandrolone decanoate and took 18 mg stanozolol three times a week. [Yes, that's what it says. Maybe they recorded it incorrectly.]
A control group of 15 bodybuilders took no steroids. Another control group of 20 young men did no training and took no steroids either.
Two months after the steroids course the researchers took cheek swabs from each test subject, taking samples of 2000 cells. Then the researchers examined the samples under a microscope to determine how many of the cells showed signs of genetic damage. The Brazilians recorded the number of cells with pyknosis [genetic material in the cell condenses], karyolysis [genetic material dissolves] and karyorrhexis [genetic material fragments].
The researchers also counted the number of micronucleated cells: cells with an extra small nucleus. These nuclei contain 'too much' DNA and make extra nuclei out of this. The photo below shows a micronucleated cell.
The more micronucleated cells in a sample, and the more cells with pyknosis, karyolysis or karyorrhexis, the greater the chance of cancer developing, scientists believe.
