The extensive use of pharmaceuticals and their poor removal by wastewater treatment plants has led to the emergence of pharmaceutical compounds as global aquatic contaminants. Progestins, the synthetic analogues to progesterone (P4), are receiving increasing attention as contaminants and have been shown to impair reproduction in fish and amphibians at low ng L-1 concentrations. Certain progestins have androgenic properties and are several orders of magnitude more potent in terms of reproductive impairment in fish than non-androgenic progestins. To characterize the androgenic effects of progestins in fish, adult three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae were exposed to progestins via the ambient water. In female sticklebacks, the androgenic progestins levonorgestrel (LNG) and norethindrone (NET) induced production of the androgenic biomarker protein spiggin and reduced production of the egg yolk protein vitellogenin. Comparison with well-known environmental androgens showed that LNG and NET, with regard to spiggin induction and vitellogenin induction, are among the most potent environmental androgens known. In male sticklebacks, LNG inhibited the post-breeding regression of secondary sex characters and spiggin production, as well as the resumption of spermatogenesis, functionally inhibiting the natural transition from breeding into non-breeding condition. Exposure of zebrafish larvae to LNG caused all fish to develop into males, whose sexual development was also significantly accelerated. P4 had no effect on the sex ratio, while slightly accelerating sexual development at high concentrations. Suppression of vitellogenesis in females, disruption of the male reproductive cycle, male-biased sex ratios and precious male puberty could all entail severe fitness costs and severely affect fish populations. Most of the effects of androgenic progestins in this thesis occurred at levels within the range of reported environmental levels, and may therefore occur in progestin-contaminated waters. In conclusion, the present results establish LNG and NET as highly potent androgenic pollutants of environmental concern, and provide strong support to the contention that the reproductive impairment in fish caused by progestins is chiefly mediated by their androgenic properties.

The most common form of hair loss in young and old people is androgenic alopecia. Hereditary hair loss affects both men and women. Hereditary hair loss in some women begins at the age of 30, but as a rule hair loss begins in post-menopausal women. In women the hair thins out in an oval portion of the front part of the scalp. In men, hair loss can start as early as at the age of 20. The hairline then starts to slowly creep upward along the temples and gives characteristic flaps, and on the scalp a bald spot appears that over time becomes larger and larger. Hereditary androgenic alopecia is caused by androgenic effects on the hair follicles causing the anagen phase to shorten and the telogen phase to extend while the hair follicle size decreases. Polymorphism in the androgen receptor has been linked to androgenic alopecia. Finasteride is a fat-soluble synthetic steroid originally intended for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In 1992 it was approved for BPH-treatment and in 1997 it was approved for male pattern baldness. Finasteride inhibits the function of type ІІ 5-α-reductase, and therefore inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone(DHT). The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of finasteride treatment against hereditary male pattern baldness. Six studies on finasteride were selected from searching the database PubMed in february 2013. To get the most relevant results the search terms "finasteride alopecia" were used. Out of 42 hits, six articles were selected. Only articles with clinical testing on humans were selected. The articles included in this study demonstrate that finasteride treatment slows the development of hair loss and increases hair growth. Increased hair growth, however, requires long-term treatment. After one year of treatment, or longer, with finasteride 1 mg daily the increase in hair growth is of the order 7-10% more hairs than at the beginning of the treatment. A larger increase in hair weight suggests that the treatment also increases the thickness and/or the length of hairs. Men 18-19 have been treated with finasterid in the studies. The concentration of DHT was decreased by finasteride treatment in all studies. Adverse reactions include decreased libido, erectile difficulty, ejaculation problems and depression can occur in fewer than 1 in 100 people which was also mentioned in the studies.

Interpersonal violence and suicide are major health concerns, leading to premature death, extensive human suffering and staggering monetary costs. Although violent behaviour has multiple causes, it is well known that acute substance intake and abuse increase the risks of both interpersonal and self-directed violence. This association is quite well established for alcohol, while a more ambiguous literature exists for other common drugs of abuse. For example, anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), synthetic analogues to the “male” sex hormone testosterone are suggested to elicit violent and aggressive behaviour. Two studies (I and III) in the present thesis addressed the association between AAS use and being suspected or convicted of a violent crime among remand prisoners and in a general population sample, respectively. Further, using the case-crossover design to control for confounders stable within individuals, I also investigated the triggering (short-term risk) effect of alcohol and drugs such as benzodiazepines and AAS, on violent crime (Study II). Finally, a fourth study (IV) based on a large national forensic sample of suicide completers (n=18,894) examined the risk of using a violent, more lethal, suicide method, when under acute influence of alcohol, central stimulants or cannabis. The results of this thesis suggested that AAS use in itself is not a proximal risk factor for violent crime; the observed risk is probably due to the co-occurrence of abuse of other substances. Alcohol is a strong triggering risk factor for violent crime, constant across males and females as well as individuals with or without behavioral and psychiatric vulnerability. Intake of high doses of benzodiazepines is associated with an increased risk for violent crime. Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of using the lethal suicide method of jumping from a height. I conclude that mapping substance abuse patterns may inform violence risk assessment and treatment planning.

Orientador: Edson Luis Maistro / Banca: Mario Sergio Montovani / Banca: Luis Fernando Barbisan / Resumo: Os anabolizantes esteróides têm sido amplamente utilizados por profissionais e atletas de elite para melhorar sua aparência e habilidades atléticas. Além disso, eles apresentam um importante papel quimioterapêutico no tratamento de vários tipos de distúrbios metabólicos, homeostáticos e sexuais, em ambos os sexos. Tendo em vista que muitas drogas esteróides têm apresentado diferentes resultados considerando efeitos genotóxicos e mutagênicos, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o potencial genotóxico do hormônio nandrolona (deca-durabolin®) in vivo em células da medula óssea e do sangue periférico de camundongos, usando o teste do micronúcleo e o ensaio do cometa, respectivamente. Os animas receberam injeção intradérmica de 3 concentrações do hormônio esteróide (1.0, 2.5 e 5.0 mg/kg peso corporal). As células foram coletadas 24 h após o tratamento hormonal para o teste do micronúcleo (avaliação da clastogenicidade) e o teste do cometa (avaliação da genotoxicidade). O teste do micronúcleo evidenciou que as duas maiores doses testadas da nandrolona induziram aumentos estatisticamente significativos de células micronucleadas e o teste do cometa não evidenciou aumento significativo de danos no DNA nos linfócitos do sangue periférico. Sob estas condições experimentais, conclui-se que o hormônio esteróide nandrolona apresentou efeito clastogênico e/ou aneugênico e, por outro lado, não foram observados efeitos genotóxicos quando o mesmo foi administrado intradermicamente em camundongos / Abstract: Anabolic androgenic steroids have been widely used by professional and elite athletes to improve their appearance and athletic abilities. Besides, they have an important place in the chemotherapeutic treatment of various types of metabolic, homeostatic, and sexual disorders in both sexes. Since many steroidal drugs have been found to be different results considering genotoxic and mutagenic effects, the aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of nandrolone (deca-durabolin®) in vivo in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells of mice, using micronucleus and comet assays, respectively. The animals received intradermal injection of the 3 concentrations of the steroid (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg body weight). The cells were collected 24 h after the hormone-treatment for the micronucleus (clastogenicity endpoint) and comet assays (genotoxicity endpoint). Micronucleus test showed that the two higher tested-doses of the nandrolone induced statistically significant increase of the micronucleated cells and comet assay no evidenced significant increase in the DNA damage of the lymphocytes from peripheral blood. Under our experimental conditions, the nandrolone steroid hormone showed clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects and, on the other hand, no genotoxic effects when administered intradermally to mice / Mestre

Denna studie gjordes för att undersöka anabola androgena steroider (AAS). Problemformuleringarna som ställdes syftade till att identifiera tillgängligheten hos öppenvårdsenheter enligt behandlare samt att undersöka hur behandlare arbetar med dessa klienter. Community Readiness Model, transteoretisk förändringsprocess samt transformativt lärande har använts som teoretiska utgångspunkter i syfte att uppnå förståelse för så väl det organisatoriska lärandet samt för individens förändringsprocess. En kvalitativ studie har gjorts genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med behandlare, aktiva inom öppenvården. Intervjumaterialet har kodats samt analyserats och ställts emot tidigare forskning för att slutsatser kring syfte och problemformuleringar. Faktorer som kunskapsbrist samt låg motivation har identifierats som bidragande orsaker till missbruksvårdens svårtillgänglighet. Man har sett ett behov av samverkan och kunskapsspridning som faktorer som skulle kunna öka tillgängligheten. Studien visar att vårdens motivation till förändring och arbete med denna problematik är lika viktig som klientens.

<p>Supratherapeutic doses of anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) are administered, not only as performance-enhancing drugs in the world of sports, but also in order to modify behaviour. AAS abusers are at risk of developing serious physical and psychological side effects such as dependence and aggressive behaviour. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the impact of supratherapeutic doses of nandrolone decanoate after subchronic administration on dopamine and serotonin pathways involved in drug dependence and aggression, in the male rat brain.</p><p>Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received intramuscular injections of nandrolone decanoate (3 or 15 mg/kg) or vehicle once daily for 14 days. Nandrolone decanoate pre-exposure abolished the effect of amphetamine on the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) tissue level in the hypothalamus and on the DOPAC/dopamine ratio in the hypothalamus and the hippocampus. A significant decrease of the basal extracellular DOPAC and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels could be detected in the nucleus accumbens, which remained low during the first hour following the amphetamine challenge. Nandrolone decanoate significantly reduced the activity of both monoamine oxidase A and B (MAO-A and -B) in the caudate putamen and amygdala. The gene transcript levels of MAO-B, and the dopamine D1 and D4 receptors were altered in limbic regions. No changes in transcriptional levels could be detected among the serotonin receptor genes examined. However, the density of the serotonin transporter protein was elevated in a range of aggression-related brain regions.</p><p>Taken together, subchronic administration of nandrolone decanoate causes dopaminergic and serotonergic dysregulations in distinct brain regions. These areas of the brain are involved in the development of drug dependence and expression of impulsive and aggressive behaviours. These results may contribute to explain some of the behavioural changes often reported in AAS abusers, such as polydrug use and impaired impulse control.</p>

Diante da hipótese de que micropartículas poliméricas podem atravessar a barreira epidérmica através da rota transfolicular, e baseado na evidência de que a iontoforese é um método que consegue direcionar a liberação de fármacos para os folículos pilosos, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar in vitro a permeação cutânea do minoxidil sulfato (MXS), fármaco utilizado no tratamento da alopecia androgênica, tanto em sua forma microencapsulada como não encapsulada utilizando ou não a iontoforese, na tentativa de aumentar, controlar e direcionar a sua liberação tópica para o folículo piloso. O MXS foi primeiramente incorporado em um gel hidrofílico contendo 2,0% (m/m) do ativo e sua permeação e retenção cutânea in vitro verificada com e sem a presença de corrente elétrica durante 6 h, utilizando células de difusão e pele de orelha de porco. A quantidade de MXS retida no EC da pele foi determinada e diferenciada daquela retida nos folículos pilosos utilizando-se a técnica denominada tape stripping diferencial. Foi observado que o fluxo passivo de fármaco através da pele aumentou 150 vezes com aplicação de iontoforese anódica e que o aumento do pH da formulação de 3,5 para 5,5 restringiu 3 vezes essa permeação iontoforética e aumentou a retenção do MXS no EC e folículos pilosos. Estes resultados mostram que a iontoforese do MXS nestas condições é capaz de promover a liberação folicular do fármaco de maneira bastante significativa. Uma série de micropartículas de quitosana contendo MXS foi obtida por spray drying modificando quantidades e proporções de polímero e fármaco. O sistema selecionado para estudo foi obtido a partir de 1,50 g de polímero e 0,75 g de MXS, e apresentou alta eficiência de encapsulação (~82%), diâmetro médio igual a 3,05 µm, morfologia esférica e sem porosidades, e potencial zeta igual a + 5,87 mV. Quando incorporadas a uma formulação hidroalcoólica, essas micropartículas sofreram intumescimento, aumentando 1,5 vezes o seu diâmetro médio, mas não tiveram sua morfologia esférica alterada. Experimentos de liberação in vitro mostraram que as micropartículas obtidas foram capazes de sustentar 3,5 vezes a liberação do MXS. As micropartículas ainda restringiram a permeação passiva do fármaco, reduzindo 2 vezes seu fluxo de permeação e aumentando em 5 vezes a retenção de fármaco na região folicular, apesar das partículas em si não penetrarem a pele após administração passiva. Assim, este sistema foi capaz de promover uma liberação mais sustentada do fármaco, o que deve reduzir o número de aplicações do produto pelo paciente ao longo do dia, e garantiu a entrada de grandes quantidades do fármaco nos folículos pilosos, seu alvo de ação. A iontoforese dessas micropartículas, apesar de também não fazê-las penetrar a pele, conseguiu direcioná-las mais rapidamente para as aberturas foliculares, como mostrou os estudos de microscopia confocal de varredura a laser das micropartículas marcadas. Adicionalmente, a iontoforese aumentou 6 vezes a quantidade de MXS retida nos folículos já nas primeiras 3 h de aplicação, garantindo assim que grandes quantidades do fármaco atingissem seu local de ação mais rapidamente que quando as partículas foram aplicadas passivamente sobre a pele. / Given the hypothesis that polymeric microparticles can penetrate the skin barrier along the transfollicular route, and based on the evidence that iontophoresis is a method that can direct the delivery of drugs to the hair follicles, this work aimed to study the in vitro skin permeation of minoxidil sulfate (MXS), a drug used to treat androgenic alopecia, both in its micro-encapsulated and non-encapsulated form, using or not iontophoresis, in an attempt to increase, control and direct its topical delivery to the hair follicle. The MXS was first incorporated in a hydrophilic gel containing 2.0% (w/w) MXS and its skin permeation and retention was in vitro observed with and without the presence of electric current for 6 h, using diffusion cells and skin of porcine\'s ears. The amount of MXS retained in EC was determined and differentiated from that retained in the hair follicles using the technique called differential tape stripping. It was observed that the passive flux of drug through the skin was increased 150-fold with the application of anodal iontophoresis and, by increasing the pH of the formulation from 3.5 to 5.5, iontophoretic permeation of MXS was 3-fold restricted, whereas it increased its retention in stratum corneum and hair follicles. These results show that iontophoresis of MXS in these conditions can promote the follicular delivery of the drug quite significantly. A series of chitosan microparticles containing MXS was obtained by spray drying, modifying quantities and proportions of polymer and drug. The system selected for study was obtained from 1.50 g of polymer and 0.75 g of MXS, and showed high encapsulation efficiency (~ 82%), mean diameter of 3.05 µm, spherical morphology without porosities, and zeta potential equal to + 5.87 mV. When incorporated into a hydro ethanolic formulation, these microparticles suffered swelling, increasing 1.5 times its diameter, but their spherical morphology was not modified. Permeation experiments showed in vitro that the microparticles obtained were able to sustain 3.5 times the release of MXS. The microparticles also restricted the passive permeation of the drug, reducing 2-fold its permeation flux and increasing by 5-fold the retention of drug in the follicular region, although the microparticles themselves did not penetrate the skin after passive administration. Thus, this system was able to promote a more sustained release of the drug, which must reduce the number of product applications by the patient throughout the day, and ensured the entry of large amounts of drug in hair follicles, their target. Iontophoresis of microparticles, although not making them penetrate the skin either, was able to direct them quickly to the follicular openings, as shown by laser confocal scanning microscopy studies of the labeled microparticles. In addition, iontophoresis increased 6-fold the amount of MXS retained in the follicles within the first 3 h of application, thereby ensuring that large quantities of the drug achieved its site of action more quickly than when the particles were applied passively to the skin.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:28:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Andreia Cristina dos Santos Kleinhans.pdf: 1304307 bytes, checksum: b48ee8803ae01d7e3e971161a1351010 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-24 / Pontif?cia Universidade Cat?lica de Campinas / A Androgenic Alopecia (AA) is characterized by progressive hair loss and thinning and it may start at any age. It is identified as a genetically determine case, in which androgenic steroid hormones play a role. The objective of this study was to verify the existence of its possible association between stress and feelings of anger, in a sample of 20 diagnosed with AA, patients at a dermatology clinic in Curitiba. The instruments utilized for data collections were: identification sheet; Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), which had the function of verifying the level of discomfort to the problem; Lipp s Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults (LSSI); and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). Data analysis was both quantitative and qualitative. For responses obtained from LSSI and STAXI, the tables and norms from their respective manuals were utilized. The analysis of the answers obtained from the question was performed according to Bardin. The results show that 85% of individuals in the sample, (n=17), presented stress. Most women with stress were in the resistance phase 55% (n=11) whereas, 15% (n= 3) were at the almost exhaustion stage, 10% (n=2) where at the exhaustion phase and only 5% (n=1) was at the alert phase, in accordance with the LSSI. In agreement with STAXI, a higher score was observed for the internal anger factor, with an average percentage of 56 (standard deviation of 18), whereas for the external anger factor, such percentage was 18 (standard deviation of 21). An important association between anger expression and the presence of stress was found (p= 0.03). There was no association between the analogue visual scale and stress. Considering the number of participants with stress and the tendency of directing anger outwardly, in addition to a high percentage for internal anger in participants of this research, there is a necessity of further studies involving psychological treatment for stress and an adequate anger management. / A Alopecia Androgen?tica (AA) ? caracterizada pela perda e afinamento progressivo dos cabelos e, pode surgir em qualquer idade. ? identificada como um quadro geneticamente determinado com a participa??o dos horm?nios ester?ides andr?genos. O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar a exist?ncia de poss?veis associa??es entre o stress e o sentimento de raiva, de uma amostra de 20 mulheres com diagn?stico m?dico para (AA), pacientes de uma cl?nica de Dermatologia em Curitiba. Os instrumentos utilizados para a coleta de dados foram: ficha de identifica??o; Escala Anal?gica Visual (EVA), cuja fun??o, foi verificar o n?vel de desconforto frente ao problema; Invent?rio de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp (ISSL); Invent?rio de Express?o de Raiva como Estado e Tra?o (STAXI). A an?lise dos dados foi quantitativa e qualitativa. Para respostas obtidas a partir do ISSL e do STAXI utilizaram-se as tabelas e normas dos respectivos manuais. A an?lise das respostas obtidas a partir da pergunta foi realizada de acordo com Bardin. Os resultados apontaram que 85% do total da amostra, (n=17), apresentaram stress. A maioria das mulheres com stress estavam na fase de resist?ncia 55% (n=11) enquanto, 15% (n= 3) encontravam-se em quase exaust?o, 10% (n=2) na fase de exaust?o e apenas 5% (n=1) apresentou-se na fase de alerta segundo o ISSL. De acordo com o STAXI observou-se um escore superior para o fator de raiva para dentro com percentil m?dio de 56 para o fator (desvio-padr?o de 18), ao passo que para o fator raiva para fora, o percentil m?dio foi 18 (desvio-padr?o 21). Uma importante associa??o entre a express?o da raiva para fora e a presen?a de stress foi encontrada (p= 0.03). N?o houve associa??o entre a escala anal?gica visual e stress. Levando-se em considera??o o n?mero de participantes com stress e tend?ncia em direcionar a raiva para fora, al?m do alto percentil de raiva para dentro das participantes dessa pesquisa, atenta-se para a necessidade de outros estudos que envolvam o tratamento psicol?gico para o stress e o adequado manejo da raiva.

Os esteróides anabólicos-androgênicos (EAA) se caracterizam como um grupo de compostos naturais e sintéticos formados a partir da testosterona e seus derivados e foram desenvolvidos com finalidade terapêutica. No entanto, a partir da década de 90 o seu uso tem sido considerado um problema de saúde pública; e o seu consumo aumentado entre atletas profissionais e amadores que usam a medicação até 100 vezes acima da dose recomendada. Os efeitos adversos mais comuns relacionados ao uso dos EAA são alterações hepáticas, endócrinas, músculo-esqueléticas, cardiovasculares, imunológicas, reprodutivas, psicológicas, efeitos virilizantes e feminilizantes; e efeitos tóxicos. Apesar de diversos efeitos deletérios, os EAA em dose e freqüência adequada podem ter efeitos benéficos no reparo de feridas, revertendo os efeitos de corticosteróides. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de doses suprafisiológicas (10mg/semana, por 60 dias) do EAA decanoato de nandrolona em 32 ratos (Rattus norvegicus), sendo divididos igualmente para o grupo experimental e controle (8 fêmeas e 8 machos para cada grupo) através da macroscopia, microscopia e morfometria. Os resultadosmostraram que os animais do grupo controle ganharam mais peso ao final do tratamento do que os animais tratados. Os ovários e testículos apresentaram atrofiaenquanto a hipertrofia foi observada nos úteros e próstatas, com diferença de peso significativa estatisticamente em todos os órgãos entre o grupo experimental e controle. Nos testículos, a contagem do número de células de Sertoli não apresentou diferença estatística, assim como no percentual de fibras colágenas entre o grupo experimental e controle. A média da altura das células epiteliais nas próstatas dos animais tratados apresentou-se maior que as do controle. Os ovários das ratas medicadas apresentaram diminuição de corpos lúteos e folículos atrésicos. Os resultados encontrados indicam que as altas doses do EAA decanoato de nandrolona causam alterações macroscópicas e morfológicas nos sistemas reprodutores de machos e fêmeas, podendo ser irreversíveis. O efeito benéfico do uso de EAA na síntese de colágeno não foi observado nos fragmentos de gengiva analisados. / The anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are characterized as a group of natural and synthetic compounds formed from testosterone and derivatives, and have been developed for therapeutic purposes. However, after the 1990s, their utilization has been considered a public health problem and the intake increased among professional and amateur athletes, who ingest up to 100 times the recommended dose of the drug. The most common adverse effects related to utilization of AAS are hepatic, endocrine, muscle-skeletal, cardiovascular, immunological, reproductive and psychological alterations; masculinizing and feminizing effects; and toxic effects. Despite the several harmful effects, utilization of AAS at adequate dose and frequency may have beneficial effects on wound repair, reverting the effects of corticosteroids. This study evaluated the effects of supraphysiological doses (10mg/week, for 60 days) of the AAS nandrolone decanoate in 32 rats (Rattus norvegicus), equally divided into experimental and control groups (8 females and 8 males for each group), by macroscopic, microscopic and morphometric analyses. The results revealed that animals in the control group gained more weight at treatment completion than treated animals. The ovaries and testicles presented atrophy, and hypertrophy of uterus and prostates was observed, with statistically significant difference in weight in all organs between the experimental and control groups. In the testicles, counting of the number of Sertoli cells and the percentage of collagen fibers did not present statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups. The mean height of epithelial cells in the prostates of treated animals was greater in treated animals than in the control group. The ovaries of treated rats exhibited reduction in corpora lutea and atresic follicles. The results indicated that high doses of AAS nandrolone decanoate caused macroscopic and morphological alterations in the reproductive systems of males and females, which may be irreversible. The beneficial effect of utilization of AAS on the collagen synthesis was not observed on gingival fragments analyzed

Os esteróides anabólicos-androgênicos (EAA) se caracterizam como um grupo de compostos naturais e sintéticos formados a partir da testosterona e seus derivados e foram desenvolvidos com finalidade terapêutica. No entanto, a partir da década de 90 o seu uso tem sido considerado um problema de saúde pública; e o seu consumo aumentado entre atletas profissionais e amadores que usam a medicação até 100 vezes acima da dose recomendada. Os efeitos adversos mais comuns relacionados ao uso dos EAA são alterações hepáticas, endócrinas, músculo-esqueléticas, cardiovasculares, imunológicas, reprodutivas, psicológicas, efeitos virilizantes e feminilizantes; e efeitos tóxicos. Apesar de diversos efeitos deletérios, os EAA em dose e freqüência adequada podem ter efeitos benéficos no reparo de feridas, revertendo os efeitos de corticosteróides. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de doses suprafisiológicas (10mg/semana, por 60 dias) do EAA decanoato de nandrolona em 32 ratos (Rattus norvegicus), sendo divididos igualmente para o grupo experimental e controle (8 fêmeas e 8 machos para cada grupo) através da macroscopia, microscopia e morfometria. Os resultadosmostraram que os animais do grupo controle ganharam mais peso ao final do tratamento do que os animais tratados. Os ovários e testículos apresentaram atrofiaenquanto a hipertrofia foi observada nos úteros e próstatas, com diferença de peso significativa estatisticamente em todos os órgãos entre o grupo experimental e controle. Nos testículos, a contagem do número de células de Sertoli não apresentou diferença estatística, assim como no percentual de fibras colágenas entre o grupo experimental e controle. A média da altura das células epiteliais nas próstatas dos animais tratados apresentou-se maior que as do controle. Os ovários das ratas medicadas apresentaram diminuição de corpos lúteos e folículos atrésicos. Os resultados encontrados indicam que as altas doses do EAA decanoato de nandrolona causam alterações macroscópicas e morfológicas nos sistemas reprodutores de machos e fêmeas, podendo ser irreversíveis. O efeito benéfico do uso de EAA na síntese de colágeno não foi observado nos fragmentos de gengiva analisados. / The anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are characterized as a group of natural and synthetic compounds formed from testosterone and derivatives, and have been developed for therapeutic purposes. However, after the 1990s, their utilization has been considered a public health problem and the intake increased among professional and amateur athletes, who ingest up to 100 times the recommended dose of the drug. The most common adverse effects related to utilization of AAS are hepatic, endocrine, muscle-skeletal, cardiovascular, immunological, reproductive and psychological alterations; masculinizing and feminizing effects; and toxic effects. Despite the several harmful effects, utilization of AAS at adequate dose and frequency may have beneficial effects on wound repair, reverting the effects of corticosteroids. This study evaluated the effects of supraphysiological doses (10mg/week, for 60 days) of the AAS nandrolone decanoate in 32 rats (Rattus norvegicus), equally divided into experimental and control groups (8 females and 8 males for each group), by macroscopic, microscopic and morphometric analyses. The results revealed that animals in the control group gained more weight at treatment completion than treated animals. The ovaries and testicles presented atrophy, and hypertrophy of uterus and prostates was observed, with statistically significant difference in weight in all organs between the experimental and control groups. In the testicles, counting of the number of Sertoli cells and the percentage of collagen fibers did not present statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups. The mean height of epithelial cells in the prostates of treated animals was greater in treated animals than in the control group. The ovaries of treated rats exhibited reduction in corpora lutea and atresic follicles. The results indicated that high doses of AAS nandrolone decanoate caused macroscopic and morphological alterations in the reproductive systems of males and females, which may be irreversible. The beneficial effect of utilization of AAS on the collagen synthesis was not observed on gingival fragments analyzed