PCOL:3102 Anabolic Steroids

testosterone

• principal androgen hormone in body

• made in testes in males and ovaries in females

• production regulated by HPG axis

how is testosterone made?

• cholesterol modified into steroid hormone

• VLDL → LDL → testis

• made in leydig cells of testes

• in women testosterone → estradiol really quickly

DHT vs estradiol

• DHT is testosterone derivative → masculinizing effect

• estradiol is estrogen derivative → feminizing effect

bodily processes testosterone is involved in?

• testosterone activation of androgen receptors alter gene expression as its a steroid hormone

• RBC production

• muscle growth, increased strength and endurance

• bone mass, density, and maintenance

• brain: mood regulation

• sex organs

• skin: skin thickening and hair growth

anabolic vs androgenic effects of testosterone

androgenic: masculinizing

• bone, brain, sex organs, skin

• development of male sex organs and secondary male characteristics such as deep voice, hair distribution,

anabolic: muscle building

• rbc and muscle

• increased lean muscle mass and muscle strength

• still need adequate diet and exercise!

synthetic anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs)

testosterone derivatives modified to increase anabolic effects and decrease androgenic effects

• increase lean muscle mass/strength and reduce fat

ex. methandrostenolone, nandrolone, and stanzolol

therapeutic uses of AASs vs current use

• hormone deficiency states in male (hypogonadism)

• weight gain

• anemia

• short stature

• breast cancer

but steroids have largely been replaced by better agents with fewer side effects as long term use has many CV, hepatic, reproductive, cosmetic, and psychological side effects

• current use would be for muscle building/body images, etc

synthetic AAS abuse (10-100x recommended dose) is associated with many neg side effects

• female: deepening of voice, breast reduction, infertility

• male: baldness, breast growth, infertility

• both:

  • psychological effects (anxiety, depression, rage, mania, confusion, delusion)

  • acne

  • male-patterned hair growth,

  • liver dmg (jaundice and liver cancer)

  • heart disease (decreased HDL / increased LDL)

are AAS addictive?

no as it doesn’t activate reward pathway but can lead to psychological dependence because users think they look diff when they use it and when they don’t use it

how does AAS cause infertility and reproductive problems?

AAS decrease GnRH (libido) as well as FSH and LH needed for reproductive health

high steroid levels neg impact reproductive health

neg cosmetic effects of AAS

• feminizing effects: some AASs converted to estrogen derivatives

• inappropriate activation of androgen receptors

testosterone precursors used for anabolic effects and possible anti-aging properties

• dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): antiaging dietary supplement

• androstenedione

other performance enhancing drugs

• human growth hormone (hGH)

• creatine

• L-arginine

• erythropoietin (EPO)

hGH

• protein produced by pituitary gland that enhances growth independent of exercise

• used for short stature and wasting diseases like AIDs (appetite stimulant)

• side effect: acromegaly

• have to be treated when they’re growing

creatine

• amino acid derivative that is converted to creatine phosphate → important molecule for energy storage in muscle

• increases muscle max power and delay fatigue

• bloating, weight gain

L-arginine

• amino acid precursor used in nitric oxide production that can increase blood flow to muscles

• NO is powerful vasodilator

• side effects: bloating, nausea

erythropoietin (EPO)

• hormone secreted by kidney that increases RBC proliferation in response to low tissue oxygen levels

• more oxygen to your muscles → better endurance

• used for anemia