الفهرس 
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Abstract
The use of anabolic steroids increased dramatically over the recent years with many side effects on human health. The present study was performed to evaluate the toxic effects of anabolic steroids on the testis, heart and skeletal muscles of albino rats and assessing the modulating effects of silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract.
Anabolic steroids decreased the levels of serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels compared to the control group. On the other hand, fenugreek seeds extract and silymarin increased the serum FSL, LH and testosterone level. Also, both silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract improved the decrease in the hormonal levels of AS treated rats.
The effect of anabolic steroids on cardiac enzymes showed a significant elevation in serum CK and troponin levels. Also, silymarin treated rats showed elevation in CK levels with no significant difference in troponin levels compared to the control group. On the other hand, fenugreek seeds extract treated rats showed a decrease in both CK and troponin levels. Both silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract improved the elevation in serum CK and troponin levels induced by the toxic effect of AS.
Regarding the effect on lipid profile, AS showed a significant elevation in serum cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels with decrease in serum HDL levels. Silymarin treated rats showed an increase in serum cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides and LDL levels. In group treated with fenugreek seeds extract, there was a decrease in the serum triglycerides, LDL and cholesterol levels with increased in HDL levels.
The anti-oxidant effects of AS on the heart, skeletal muscles and testis showed that, the tissue levels of reduced glutathione, SOD and catalases decreased in AS treated rats with increased levels of MDA denoting increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzymes activity. Both silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract improved the levels of SOD, catalase, reduced glutathione and decreased MDA levels with better results in fenugreek seeds extract.
Stained sections of testes of rats in the control group and rats treated with silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract showed more or less normal histological structure. Marked degenerative changes and necrosis were markedly shown in rats received nandrolone decanoate associated with a decrease in spermatogenic cells and the presence of atrophic and abnormal tubules. Treatment with silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract showed improvement of the histopathological changes with better results with silymarin.
Severe degenerative changes and necrosis of the cardiac muscles (hyalinosis) were observed in rats treated with AS. On the other hand, normal histological structure of cardiac muscles could be found in rats of the control group and those received silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract. Improvement of the toxic effects of AS was observed with treatment of silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract with better results in fenugreek seeds extract group.
Histopathological examination of the skeletal muscle in control group rats and rats treated with silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract revealed a normal histological structure of these muscles. Severe pathological lesions, mainly in the form of severe degenerative changes associated with nuclear pyknosis of the sarcoplasm were seen in rats treated with nandrolone decanoate. The toxic effect of AS could be improved with treatment by silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract.