Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

Abstract
Sustanon-250 is an anabolic androgenic steroid used for clinical therapy, but its effects on female reproductive physiology have not been fully investigated. This study evaluated the effects of sustanon-250 administered during pregnancy on the haematological parameters, serum levels of pituitary-gonadal hormones and fertility indices of female albino rats. Fifteen pregnant female albino rats randomly assigned into three groups (A – C) of five rats each were used for the study. Group A rats (Untreated Control) were given subcutaneous injections of 5 ml/kg body weight (BW) of distilled water as placebo, while Group B and C rats were given subcutaneous injections of 3 mg/kg BW of sustanon-250 and 10 mg/kg BW of sustanon-250, respectively. Treatments were done on gestation days 1, 8 and 15, for all groups. On day 21 of gestation, haematological profile, serum levels of pituitary-gonadal hormones and fertility indices were assessed. Results showed that sustanon-250 administration at 10 mg/kg BW led to a significantly lower (p < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) on day 8 and 15 of gestation, while administration of both 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of sustanon-250 led to a dose-dependent significantly lower (p < 0.05) BWG on day 21 of gestation. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the mean corpora lutea number (CLN) between the Untreated Control group and group treated with 3 mg/kg of sustanon-250, but there was no pregnancy or corpus luteum of pregnancy established in the rats given 10 mg/kg of sustanon-250. The mean number of implantation sites (IM) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower, while serum progesterone level, mean resorbed embryo number (REN) and early embryonic death (EED) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group given 3 mg/kg of sustanon-250 when compared with the Untreated Control group. The serum progesterone level of rats treated with 10 mg/kg of sustanon-250 was significantly (p < 0.05) lower when compared with that of the Untreated Control group and the group that received 3 mg/kg of sustanon-250. The group given Sustanon-250 administration at 10 mg/kg body weight had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean FSH, LH, PCV, RBC, Hb, MCV and MCH when compared with the Untreated Control group. Sustanon-250, as used in the study, negatively affected fertility in the pregnant albino rats, but improved the erythrocytic profile.

Keywords: Sustanon-250; Fertility; Pregnancy; Pituitary-Gonadal Hormones; Albino rats.

How to cite this article:
Mbegbu EC, Eze RC and Uchendu CN (2024). Effects of Sustanon-250 administered during pregnancy on haematological parameters, serum levels of pituitary-gonadal
hormones and fertility indices of pregnant female albino rats. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 14(2): 799 – 808.

*Correspondence: E-mail: edmond.mbegbu@unn.edu.ng Phone: +2348060144975