Interaction between nandrolone decanoate and calcitonin in bone formation markers (osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphatase) and IGF-I in rats.

Bone tissue has been shown to contain numerous cell-to-cell signaling peptides called growth factors. These growth factors are thought to have important regulating effects for bone remodeling, due to their potent effects on bone cell metabolism. Our investigation was intended to assess the effect of nandrolone decanoate and calcitonin treatment on biochemical markers of bone formation (bone alkaline phosphatase - osteocalcin) and insulin-like growth factor-I in rats. We studied 48 adult male rats. The animals were divided into four groups. Group (A) served as control. Animals in Group (B) were injected with 4 mg/kg/day nandrolone decanoate. Animals in Group (C) were injected with 400mU/rat/day calcitonin and Group (D) received combined therapy for seven days. Nandrolone decanoate and calcitonin have a mild but significant effect on insulin-like growth factor-I without affecting osteocalcin levels, while calcitonin alone decreases the BALP levels. The coadministration of two agents caused notable elevation on insulin-like growth factor-I, followed by a significant increase of osteocalcin and bone alkaline phosphatase.