The effects of anabolic steroids on collagen synthesis in rat skeletal muscle and tendon

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Abstract
We measured the activities of prolyl 4-hydroxylase and galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (both en zymes of collagen biosynthesis) and the concentration of hydroxyproline in male rat soleus muscle and Achilles tendon during anabolic steroid treatment at 1 and 3 weeks. The rats were treated using a therapeutic dos age or a dosage that was five times the therapeutic level. After 1 week, the activity of prolyl 4-hydroxylase decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in both treated groups in the soleus muscle, but the activity of galac tosylhydroxylsyl glucosyltransferase decreased signifi cantly (P < 0.05) only in the group given a therapeutic dose. After 3 weeks, the activities were at the control level. In the Achilles tendon, the activity of prolyl 4- hydroxylase and the hydroxyproline concentration de creased significantly (P < 0.05) in the group given high doses at 3 weeks. Anabolic steroid treatment seems to have at least a transitory effect on collagen biosyn thesis in male rat muscle and tendon; in tendon this effect is seen only with high doses.