In vivo assessment of inflammatory cytokines induced oxidative stress signalling, and troponin I gene dysregulation in cardiac tissue associated with chronic administration of boldenone and tramadol, alone or in combination

Introduction The risk of cardiotoxicity is associated with the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids and analgesics, several deaths were attributed to such medications. Objectives This study investigates the effects of boldenone (BOLD) and tramadol (TRAM) alone or in combination on the heart.Material and methods Forty adult male rats were divided into four groups. Normal control group, BOLD (5 mg/kg, i.m.) per week, tramadol Hcl (TRAM) (20 mg/kg, i.p.) daily, and a combination of BOLD (5 mg/kg) and TRAM (20 mg/kg), respectively for two months. Serum and cardiac tissue were extracted for determination of serum, AST and CPK, tissue MDA, GSH, SOD, NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and histopathological examination. Troponin I gene expression was quantified in cardiac tissue using real time PCR technique.Results Groups received BOLD and TRAM alone and in combination showed elevated serum biochemical parameters (AST, CPK) and deviations in lipid profiles, elevation in oxidative and inflammatory parameters (MDA, NO, TNF-α & IL-1β), and decrease in GSH and SOD, up-regulated cardiac troponin I as well as distorted cardiac histopathological pictures.Conclusion The current study elucidated the risk of administration of these drugs for sustained periods as well as the marked detrimental effects of using these drugs in combination.