steroids

Question 1

what does anabolic mean?

Answer 1

increase muscle mass

Question 2

what does androgenic mean?

Answer 2

masculinising/testosterone-like

Question 3

what are steroids?

Answer 3

essentially largely synthetic testosterone

may be used therapeutically to treat conditions such as low testosterone/hypogonadism in males

also used therapeutically (e.g. for rheumatoid arthritis and anaemia) and to build muscle for the bed-ridden

diverse chemical and physical effects - produce corresponding diverse behavioural and physical effects

Question 4

what is the history and origins?

Answer 4

known for thousands of years that the testes led to behavioural changes in males during puberty (understanding came from knowing what castration did to young boys)

in 1870s, Brown-Sequard began his experiments with testicular extracts, suggesting some form of chemical/hormonal understanding

testosterone was isolated in 1930s and numerous synthetic androgens were quickly developed thereafter

Question 5

what are the origins of consumption?

Answer 5

by 1940s, benefits of drug muscle gains for athletic purposes became realised

by 1950s, drug was being used by doctors overseeing body builders and widely used by Russian weightlifters then began to move into other sporting events

in 2016, all Russian weightlifters were banned from Olympics with doping being so prevalent

Question 6

how are steroids and sporting events related?

Answer 6

steroids taken orally or intramuscularly also in creams/gels or as patches

endurance athletes and sprinters use low doses

bodybuilders and strength athletes use up to 100x therapeutic dose

oral steroids potentially metabolised too fast in liver to act

additional variants specially designed to avoid problem of rapid metabolism and to minimise androgenic relative to anabolic effects

Question 7

what are the methods of ingestion?

Answer 7

typically orally or injecting

steroid of choice, route of administration and dosage regime depends on what the user is trying to achieve

Question 8

what are some common anabolic steroids?

Answer 8

methandrostenolone (dianabol)

testosterone undecanoate (andriol)

oxanddrolone (oxandrin)

Question 9

what was Bhasin et al’s (2001) study into steroids?

Answer 9

muscle strength and volume following chronic testosterone administration in men

Question 10

are the androgenic and anabolic effects the desired effects?

Answer 10

anabolic

Question 11

what are the androgenic behavioural effects?

Answer 11

psychological effects of “male” characteristics (aggression, competitiveness)

development and maintenance of libido (males and females)

pubertal voice alterations (males)

increased secretions from sebaceous glands in skin

increased density of facial and body hair

pubic hair development (males)

initial development of genitalia (males and females)

seminal vesicles and prostate development (males)

Question 12

what are the anabolic behavioural effects?

Answer 12

increased skeletal muscle mass

improved T-lymphocyte production

increased size of organs

retention of electrolytes (particularly dietary sodium)

altered haemoglobin and red blood cell mass

altered distribution of body fat

increased bone density

increased pubertal growth height (when present with human growth hormone)

Question 13

what are the neural mechanisms of steroids?

Answer 13

structures of commonly abused anabolic steroids, many based on testosterone

disrupts natural hormonal balance

can cause body to reduce own production of testosterone

works in muscle cells mainly, less so in brain

androgen bonds to androgen receptors, ready to change gene transcription

Question 14

what are the hypotheses of the neural mechanisms?

Answer 14

steroids act at androgen receptors

steroid treatment induces receptor expression in muscles

androgens are antagonists for glucocorticoid hormones which are catabolic - decrease protein synthesis, increase in protein breakdown

Question 15

what is the hypothesis that steroids act at androgen receptors?

Answer 15

androgen receptors present in cytoplasm of skeletal muscle (and many other places)

androgens bind and activate receptors, which moves to cell nucleus and regulates DNA transcription of specific genes

androgen receptor activation increases protein synthesis and muscle growth (specific gene to be identified)

Question 16

what is the problem with the hypothesis that steroids act at androgen receptors?

Answer 16

some argue that normally androgen receptors already saturated

so how can steroids work on them?

Question 17

are steroids addictive?

Answer 17

reported in steroid users (take more than intended, can’t cut down even though want to, spend much time obtaining and using, continue use despite problems use causes, replace other activities with substance use)

to some extent, users shown behavioural withdrawal symptoms

no reports of self-administration in mice

don’t produce euphoria or elicit cravings during withdrawal

so perhaps initially reinforcing because of effect on body image - only get dependence in people for whom this is important - not because steroid is psychoactive

Question 18

what are some behavioural withdrawal symptoms?

Answer 18

fatigue

depression

insomnia

restlessness

anorexia

decreased libido

dissatisfaction with body image

desire for more steroids

Question 19

what are the laboratory studies into the addictiveness of steroids?

Answer 19

systematic testosterone and testosterone in NAc both produce a conditioned place preference in mice

NAc is neural substrate of reward

place preference is blocked by the D1/D2 antagonist α-flupentixol (not chemically related to testosterone)

Question 20

what are effects of chronic steroid use?

Answer 20

severe acne and facial hair growth due androgenic component

breast growth in men

many effects are reversible

side effects depend on age and sex of user, steroid type, dose, pattern and duration of use

Question 21

what are the possible health consequences of anabolic steroid use?

Answer 21

cardiovascular effects - hypertension (high blood pressure), increased blood clotting, increased red blood cells, decreased HDL cholesterol (the “good” kind)

on liver (particularly from oral steroid use) - jaundice, peliosis hepatis (blood-filled cysts in the liver), tumours

on skin and hair - oily skin and scalp, severe acne, male pattern baldness

growth stunting in adolescents due to premature epiphyseal closure

Question 22

what are the behavioural effects of steroid use?

Answer 22

“roid rage”

increased libido (sex drive)

increased irritability and aggression

dependence

Question 23

what is “roid rage”?

Answer 23

dramatic mood swings

increased feelings of hostility

impaired judgement

increased levels of aggression

Pope et al (2000) - 4% of people

Question 24

what are the psychological effects of steroid use?

Answer 24

increased irritability and aggression

Question 25

what are the specific effects on men?

Answer 25

testicular shrinkage reduced sperm counts and possible infertility prostate enlargement gynecomastia (breast development)

Question 26

what are the specific effects on women?

Answer 26

menstrual abnormalities deepening of the voice excessive hair growth, especially on the face enlargement of the clitoris decreased breast size

Question 27

what are the societal and legal issues?

Answer 27

anabolic steroids are classified as class C drug only available as prescription