The effects of nandrolone decanoate on cocaine-induced kindling in male rats

Use and abuse of various controlled substances in recent years has reached alarming levels. Among these are cocaine and anabolic steroids. The two contrasting types of drug have common sites of action within the limbic system of the central nervous system. The ability of cocaine to provoke seizures is well documented, and sex hormones also have been shown to alter seizure types and characteristics. This project studied the consequences of co-administration of cocaine and a representative anabolic–androgenic steroid, nandrolone decanoate. Specifically, the effects of nandrolone on cocaine-induced kindling of seizures were examined. Nandrolone was shown to increase seizure rate when given in high (20 mg twice weekly) intermittent doses. No statistically significant differences were observed with low (2 mg) daily doses of nandrolone. The results support the hypothesis that an androgen may interact so as to modify the pattern of cocaine-related kindling. However, the potential of either pharmacodynamic and/or pharmacokinetic mechanism(s) for this interaction exists, and the nature of these interactions remains to be fully elucidated.