The effects of chronic administration of anti-androgenic agents on cardiac health in adult male Wistar rats

F. N, Okwakpam and F. U, Wopara, I, Igwe and B. A, Amadi and C. B, Ben-Wosu (2025) The effects of chronic administration of anti-androgenic agents on cardiac health in adult male Wistar rats. Open Access Research Journal of Life Sciences, 9 (1). 001-009. ISSN 278-3025X

Background: Antiandrogens such as Flutamide and Bicalutamide are commonly used in treating prostate cancer and other androgen-related conditions. However, their impact on cardiac health remains inadequately explored. This study aims to investigate the cardiovascular effects of these antiandrogens in adult male Wistar rats, focusing on cardiac biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme levels, and oxidative stress indicators. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: a control group and two treatment groups receiving 50 mg/kg Flutamide and 10 mg/kg Bicalutamide, respectively, for 21 days. Body weight changes, heart weight, and serum levels of cardiac biomarkers (LDH, cTn-I, CK-MB) were measured. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Results: Flutamide and Bicalutamide treatment resulted in a significant decrease in relative heart weight, with values of 0.43 ± 0.04 g for Flutamide and 0.45 ± 0.05 g for Bicalutamide compared to 0.61 ± 0.06 g in the control group. Weight gain was also significantly reduced, with percentages of 17.77 ± 0.99% for Flutamide and 12.82 ± 0.91% for Bicalutamide, while the control group had 25.47 ± 0.55%. Elevated cardiac biomarkers were observed, with cTn-I levels of 58.69 ± 0.52 ng/ml for Flutamide and 56.98 ± 0.54 ng/ml for Bicalutamide compared to 52.23 ± 1.72 ng/ml in controls. Additionally, CK-MB levels increased to 29.84 ± 0.47 ng/ml for Flutamide and 31.34 ± 0.52 ng/ml for Bicalutamide from 19.02 ± 1.54 ng/ml in the control group. Antioxidant levels (SOD, CAT, GSH) were significantly reduced, with SOD at 6.17 ± 0.07 U/mg protein for Flutamide and 5.70 ± 0.15 U/mg protein for Bicalutamide, and MDA levels were significantly elevated to 1.88 ± 0.06 U/mg and 1.99 ± 0.52 U/mg, respectively, compared to 0.94 ± 0.06 U/mg in controls. Conclusion: The findings indicate that Flutamide and Bicalutamide exert significant adverse effects on cardiac health, leading to oxidative stress and myocardial damage. These results calls for careful cardiovascular monitoring and consideration of antioxidant co-therapy during long-term antiandrogen treatment to mitigate potential cardiac risks in patients undergoing such therapies.