ULTRASTRUCTURAL-CHANGES INDUCED BY ANABOLIC-STEROIDS IN LIVER OF TRAINED RATS

The effects of anabolic steroid treatment in association with enduranc e training on biochemical serum parameters and liver ultrastructure ha ve been investigated in male rats. Values of serum alanine aminotransf erase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were not si gnificantly affected by administration of high doses of fluoxymesteron e or methylandrostanolone. Electron microscopic examination of hepatic tissue from treated animals revealed ultrastructural alterations of h epatocytes. The most prominent changes were swelling of mitochondria, which presented electron-lucent matrix and slightly defined cristae, a nd a marked increase in the number of lysosomes. These changes were ev ident in both sedentary and trained treated rats, indicating that live r cell damage is produced by anabolic-androgenic steroids despite the simultaneous realization of physical exercise. The alterations observe d were not detected by means of conventional biochemical liver tests.