PEDs and Testing

Question 1

What forms of PEDs are we interested in for this class?

Answer 1

Anabolic/androgenic steroids and hormones

Question 2

What are some basic characteristics of AAS?

Answer 2

Major PEDs
Based off testosterone steroid nucleus
Altered to enhance muscle building

Question 3

What is type 1 AAS?

Answer 3

Esters
Prolonged half lives
Hydrolyzed to testosterone
Aromatized to estrogens by aromatase

Question 4

What is type 2 AAS?

Answer 4

19-nor-testosterone derivatives
Prolonged half lives
Reduced androgenic effects
80% less aromatization than type 1

Question 5

What is type 3 AAS?

Answer 5

17alpha-alkyl derivatives
Greatly reduced liver metabolism
Not converted to estrogen
Increased anabolic effects

Question 6

How are PEDs administered?

Answer 6

Pyramiding
Stacking
Cycling

Question 7

What is pyramiding?

Answer 7

Increases doses followed by decreasing dose

Question 8

What is stacking?

Answer 8

Using multiple steroids

Question 9

What is cycling?

Answer 9

Alternating periods of use, co-ordinated with training or testing schedules

Question 10

How are PEDs absorbed?

Answer 10

Injection intramuscular
Ingestion
Topical

Question 11

How are PEDs distributed?

Answer 11

Lipophilic
Rapid
To muscle
Widespread

Question 12

How are PEDs metabolized?

Answer 12

In the liver
Produces first-pass metabolites
Low bioavailability

Question 13

How are PEDs excreted?

Answer 13

90% in the kidney
10% in other locations like the GI tract

Question 14

What is determined by sex steroids?

Answer 14

Fundamental male and female differences

Question 15

Where are sex steroids produced naturally?

Answer 15

In reproductive tissues stimulated by FSH/LH from the anterior pituitary

Question 16

What is testosterone converted to in the body?

Answer 16

DHT by 5alpha-reductase

Question 17

What is aromatase?

Answer 17

The rate-limiting step for estrogen production

Question 18

What are natural sex steroid levels like?

Answer 18

Cyclical, negative feedback

Question 19

What do anabolic steroids bind to?

Answer 19

Androgen receptors

Question 20

What do higher concentrations of AAS do?

Answer 20

Cause additional receptor binding e.g. estrogen receptors

Question 21

What are the mechanisms of AAS action?

Answer 21

Drug-receptor complexes translocate to nucleus, bind specific DNA sequences
Activates gene transcription mRNA production, makes new protein like for building muscle
Steroids shift stem cells towards muscle cell differentiation, as opposed to adipose cell

Question 22

What are the mechanisms of AAS reinforcement?

Answer 22

Many users report euphoria
This may come from increased beta-endorphin levels which decrease GABA release onto VTA DA-ergic neurons
When steroids modulate GABAa receptors, DA-ergic mesolimbic neurons increase firing rate

Question 23

What does AAS produce?

Answer 23

Massive weight gains which is virtually all muscle

Question 24

What do animals treated with AAS show?

Answer 24

Increased number of myonuclei
Increased muscle fibre cross-sectional area

Question 25

What does cellular memory allow for?

Answer 25

Rapid muscle building after a period of inactivity

Question 26

What is trenbolone?

Answer 26

19-nor derivative of testosterone that has a higher affinity for androgen receptors and is also not a substrate for 5alpha-reductase nor aromatase

Question 27

What is the cellular action of trenbolone?

Answer 27

Induces myotrophic effects without unwanted effects Reverses expression of atrophic genes Increases expression of anabolic genes

Question 28

How fast does tolerance to anabolic steroids develop?

Answer 28

After 1 dose even The presence of steroids inhibits their own production = negative feedback

Question 29

What are the symptoms of AAS withdrawal?

Answer 29

Depression Mood swings Fatigue Headache Insomnia Lack of energy No appetite Body dissatisfaction

Question 30

What does dependence to anabolic steroids look like?

Answer 30

30% become dependent More likely at higher doses Mostly psychological due to cycle length, want to avoid negative effects

Question 31

How do anabolic steroids affect the skin long term?

Answer 31

Male pattern baldness Acne Oily skin and scalp

Question 32

How do anabolic steroids affect cognition long term?

Answer 32

Severe mood swings, aggression, depression, the chance of dependence

Question 33

How do anabolic steroids affect muscle and fat long term?

Answer 33

Increased muscle mass and breakdown of fat Breast development

Question 34

How do anabolic steroids affect the circulatory system long term?

Answer 34

Hypertension Increased red blood cell production Increased blood clotting Edema Elevated cholesterol Increased risk of heart attack and stroke

Question 35

How do anabolic steroids affect the liver long term?

Answer 35

Liver damage Increased risk of jaundice, hepatitis, and cancer

Question 36

How do anabolic steroids affect the thyroid long term?

Answer 36

Decreased thyroid function

Question 37

How do anabolic steroids affect the immune system long term?

Answer 37

Inhibition of immune system

Question 38

How do anabolic steroids affect the reproductive system long term?

Answer 38

Decreased sperm production, testicular atrophy, and impotence

Question 39

How do anabolic steroids affect tendons and bones long term?

Answer 39

Weakened tendons Decreased bone growth during adolescence

Question 40

Where are steroid receptors present?

Answer 40

In multiple tissues like the brain and muscles

Question 41

What are risks associated with anabolic steroids?

Answer 41

Lack of knowledge of how many and which genes are turned on Activation of other genes leads to unwanted, dangerous side effects

Question 42

What is roid rage?

Answer 42

Increased aggression, anger, rage especially in dependent users Psychosis and depression also occur more frequently

Question 43

What is the mechanism behind roid rage?

Answer 43

GABAa, NMDA, 5HT receptors can bind endogenous neurosteroids

Question 44

What is the anterior hypothalamus?

Answer 44

The aggression centre

Question 45

What does activation of D2 in AH result in?

Answer 45

Aggression and violence in animal models

Question 46

What do moderate doses of anabolic steroids in adolescence do to DH expression in the AH?

Answer 46

It increases D2 expression

Question 47

What do arginine vasopressin and 5HT do to aggression?

Answer 47

Arginine vasopressin is excitatory and potentiates aggression 5HT is inhibitory and decreases aggression

Question 48

What does steroid exposure do to arginine vasopressin and 5HT?

Answer 48

Enhances vasopressin and reduces 5HT effects

Question 49

What does chronic nandrolone do?

Answer 49

Increases aggression in mice Reduces 5HT receptor mRNA in PFC, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala

Question 50

What is anabolic steroid abuse linked to in relation to depression?

Answer 50

Reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and correlates with depressed behaviors

Question 51

What does BDNF do?

Answer 51

Stimulates neuronal growth in the hippocampus Steroids reduces this

Question 52

What is the issue with designer steroids?

Answer 52

Modified by clandestine labs Undetectable No one knows the mechanisms and long-term effects

Question 53

How are samples tested for PEDs?

Answer 53

Usually urine, tested for known metabolites Can run HPLC, ELISA, GC-MS

Question 54

What assays are most common for testing?

Answer 54

Chemical and immunoassays

Question 55

What does improved technology allow for the detection of?

Answer 55

Unique metabolites and lower threshold for detection

Question 56

What is chemical haptenation?

Answer 56

A small molecule that binds a macromolecule to produce an immune reaction