Effects of single dose administered nandrolone decanoate on serum cytokine levels and some biochemical parameters in male and female rats. Erdal Tasgin 1* , Sefa Lök 1 , Seyfullah Haliloğlu 3 , Nagehan Demir 2 , Hale Ergin 3 1 Selcuk University, School of Physical Education and Sport, 42075, Konya, Turkey 2 Veterinary Doctor 42075, Konya, Turkey 3 Department of Biochemistry, Veterinary Faculty, Selcuk University, 42075 Konya, Turkey Abstract The aim this this study was to determine that administration of single higher dose nandrolone decanoate (40 mg/kg) on serum IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-6 levels and some biochemical parameters during 24 h in male and female rats. The blood samples were taken from 5 male and female rats to obtain their starting values. Then the blood samples were taken from 6 rats in sampling time at 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th and 24th h following the nandrolone decanoate administration. There were significant increases determined in the serum IL-1β levels, numerical increases in the TNF-α levels whereas decreased IL-6 levels were determined. IL-10 levels did not change during experimental period. While serum GGT and BUN levels increased towards the last h of the study, increased ALP levels were observed only female rats. There was no any significance changes were determined in the other biochemical (ALT, AST, CK- MB and LDH) values. As a result, increased IL-1β and TNF-α levels, proinflammatory cytokines, and some biochemical parameters may be reflect that long term used nandrolone decanoate causes organ damages and effect immune system function. However, effects of long term used nandrolone decanoate on the immune system and organ functions should be detailed evaluated. Keywords: Nandrolone, Cytokines, Organ damages. Accepted on January 24, 2017 Introduction It is stated that use of doping has increased significantly in recent years, and it harms human health and at the same time, it also affects ethical values of sport negatively [1]. Doping refers to taking any impurity into body illegally by athletes in order to gain an advantage over competitor in contests and competitions [2]. After the competitions, a science committee follows traces of various performance enhancers with blood and urine tests. This is very important in terms of protecting justice of the sport with athletes [3]. The fight against doping has become a political issue around the world for more than 60 years [4]. While AAS (Anabolic androgenic steroids) which are ones of synthetic derivatives of male sex hormones and testosterone [5-8] had being used for burns and traumas, radiation therapy and chronic weight loss diseases since 1940s, They became even more important in treatments of AIDS related burnout syndrome and kidney diseases after 1985 [9]. It has been reported that anabolism takes part in enhancing protein synthesis to keep nitrogen in body mass [10], androgens take part in development of the male reproductive system [11]. Materials and Methods Totally 35 male and 35 female rats were used. 5 male and female rats were accepted as control time (0 hour), and rested 30 male and female rats were received at the doze of 40 mg/kg nandrolone decanoate (IP). After treatments, blood samples were collected at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hour from cardiac puncture under anesthesia. Serum ALP, ALT, AST, CK-MB, GGT, LDH and BUN levels were measured with auto-analyzer, while serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 levels was determined with ELISA reader. Data were evaluated by ANOVA and Duncan test. P<0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results Serum biochemical values of male and female rat are shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Increased GGT and BUN levels were determined (P<0.05) in male rats, whereas statistically significant fluctuations were determined (P<0.05) in ALP, GGT, BUN and LDH levels in female rats. Serum cytokine levels are presented in Tables 3 and 4, respectively. Increased IL-1β levels are determined (P<0.05) in male rats, whereas statistically significant fluctuations were Biomedical Research 2017; 28 (8): 3727-3730 ISSN 0970-938X www.biomedres.info Biomed Res- India 2017 Volume 28 Issue 8 3727