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Original article
Anabolic androgenic steroids induce micronuclei in buccal mucosa cells of bodybuilders
  1. O Torres-Bugarín1,
  2. R Covarrubias-Bugarín2,
  3. A L Zamora-Perez3,
  4. B M G Torres-Mendoza4,
  5. M García-Ulloa5,
  6. F G Martínez-Sandoval6
  1. 1
    Departamento de Investigación, Programa Internacional de la Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
  2. 2
    Maestría en Nutrición Clínica, Universidad del Valle de Atemajac, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
  3. 3
    Laboratorio de Farmacogenómica y Biomedicina Molecular, Centro Intersciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Durango, Durango, México
  4. 4
    Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara y Universidad del Valle de Atemajac, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
  5. 5
    Departamento de Ciencias Acuícolas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, México
  6. 6
    Dirección del Programa Internacional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
  1. O Torres-Bugarín, Departamento de Investigación, Programa Internacional de la Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara. Av Patria 1201, Lomas del Valle 3 sección, Zapopan, Jalisco, México, C.P. 44100; luly73{at}hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate genotoxicity of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in male bodybuilders by a micronucleus assay in buccal mucosa cells.

Methods: 11 male bodybuilders volunteered to participate in this study and two groups were formed: group 1 (n = 6), without AAS consumption and group 2 (n = 5), with AAS consumption. A sample of buccal epithelium was taken from each participant once a week for 6 weeks. Samples were fixed, stained and analysed by a light microscope, and 2000 cells were counted from each slide. Results are expressed as micronucleated cells (MNC) per 1000 cells and were analysed by the Mann–Whitney U test and Wilcoxon’s test.

Results: A marked increased in MNC was seen in bodybuilders with AAS consumption compared with those without AAS consumption (mean (SD) 4.1 (2.4) MNC/1000 cells vs 0.4 (0.4) MNC/1000 cells, respectively; p<0.004). Intragroup comparisons showed no differences in the MNC frequencies during the sampling time in group 1, whereas the MNC frequency in group 2 varied significantly, reaching the highest MNC frequencies in the third and fourth week of sampling (5.9 (2.4) MNC/1000 cells; 5.8 (1.8) MNC/1000 cells, respectively); frequency in the first sampled week was 1.1 (0.1) MNC/1000 cells. Significant differences in all sampled weeks were found between the two groups.

Conclusion: AAS consumption increased the frequency of MNC from buccal mucosa in bodybuilders.

  • micronuclei
  • buccal mucosa cells
  • bodybuilders
  • genotoxicity
  • anabolic androgenic steroids

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2006.032474

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    Footnotes

    • Conflict of interest: None declared.

    • Abbreviations:
      AAS
      anabolic androgenic steroids
      MN
      micronucleus
      MNC
      micronucleated cells

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