Effects of nandrolone treatment on recovery in horses after strenuous physical exercise

To test the effect of nandrolone on their recovery, six adult half-bred riding horses performed a competition exercise test (CET) and a standardized exercise test (SET) on consecutive days before and after a 2-week treatment with the anabolic steroid nandrolone laurate. Blood samples were collected during and between these tests for the determination of red cell volume and concentrations of blood lactate, plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, glycerol, triglycrides, erythropoietin, cortisol, insulin, and glucagon. Muscle biopsy specimens were taken immediately after the CET and before the SET for analysis of glycogen content, citrate synthase, and 3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehvdrogenase activity. Nandrolone administration increased the rate of muscle glycogen repletion after exercise, an increase that may be explained by increased glucose output by the liver, higher plasma insulin concentration, and increased insulin-independent glucose transport, but not by better availability of lipid fuels during recovery.