steroids

Question 1

what are the different classes for doping?

Answer 1

• stimulants
• anabolic agents
• peptide hormones and factors
• beta - 2 agonists
• beta blockers
• hormone and metabolic modulators
• narcotics
• diuretics
• glucocorticoids
• cannabinoids

Question 2

doping - def.

Answer 2

the use of any substance that aids performance

Question 3

what are the three methods for manipulation of doping?

Answer 3

1) manipulation of blood and blood components
- blood taken out, body adapts and creates new RBCs, insert blood back into circulation (high risk of blood clotting)
2) chemical and physical manipulations
- altitude training
3) gene doping
- dystrophin, which maintains muscle fiber

Question 4

what are the 3 factors contributing to muscle mass, that when put together, have an additive effect on increasing muscle mass?

Answer 4

• physical activity
• nutritional status
• endocrine influence

Question 5

Anabolic-androgenic steroids : what are the 4 classes of natural steroid hormones?

Answer 5

1) androgens (testosterone)
2) corticoids
3) estrogens
4) progestogens

Question 6

how can we determine whether a steroid is anabolic or androgenic?

Answer 6

if the anabolic index (ratio of myotrophic activity to androgenic activity) is over 1, then the steroid is anabolic, if it’s under 1, the steroid is androgenic

Question 7

synthesis of AAS: what are the three ways in which we can modify testosterone?

Answer 7

1) alkylation of the 17 beta-hydroxyl group
2) esterification of the 17 alpha position
3) modification of the steroid nucleus to enhance anabolic properties

Question 8

what are the 3 mechanisms of actio of steroids?

Answer 8

1) cellular level modulations: steroid converting enzymes within a particular target tissue
2) molecular level (genomic) modulations: androgen receptor co-regulators (proteins that affect the transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor)
3) anti catabolic effect by interfering with glucocorticoid receptor expression

Question 9

what are some adverse effects of androgens?

Answer 9

1) balding in men and women; hair on face and chest in women
2) beard and deepening of voice in women
3) breast enlargement in men and breast reduction in women
4) kidney disease and retention of fluids (steroid bloat)
5) reduced testicular size, low sperm count, and impotency
6) roid mania - hostility and aggression, delusions and hallucinations, depression upon withdrawal
7) severe acne
8) high blood cholesterol and atherosclerosis
9) liver dysfunction/cancer
10) in women, increased size of ovaries; cessation of ovulation and menstruation
11) stunted growth in young people

Question 10

what is the chronic triad for chronic AAS abuse?

Answer 10

1) acne
2) striae (stretch marks)
3) gynecomastia - man boobs

Question 11

contrast “cycling” vs “stacking”

Answer 11

cycling - time period in which someone is on steroids

stacking - taking multiple steroids at once to try to increase effects

Question 12

what are the ways in which we can diagnose steroid abuse?

Answer 12

Urine samples:
human urinary steroid profiles
-testosterone: epitestosterone ratio
-5 alpha dihydrotestosterone (DHT): epitestosterone ratio
-testosterone metabolites (androsterone, etiocholano-lone, and 5b-androstane-3a, etc.)