Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

1. Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids Sierra Boley Katie Pohl Grady Brown 04/20/2012

2. Definition of AS Anabolic Steroid – Steroid hormones that increase muscle mass and also have masculinizing, or testosterone-like, properties Not to be confused with corticosteroids – anti-inflammatory

3. Examples of Anabolic Steroids • Anadrol(oxymetholone) • Dianabol (methandrostenolone) • Winstrol(stanozolol) • Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone) • Oxandrin(Oxandrolone) • Depot-Testosterone

4. Uses • Occasionally used to help AIDS patients gain weight and to treat some types of severe anemia • Used by athletes to boost performance • Used by ordinary people to enhance appearance • Since 1996, use in children has increased 39% among 8th graders, 67% among 10th graders and 84% among seniors in high school • 1 out of 16 high school students have used

5. Forms • They come in various forms: • Pills • Creams • Patches • Tablet or drops placed under the tongue • Injectables http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2009/05/central_fla_man_implicates_nat.html $100,000

6. Background and History All structurally similar to testosterone Were developed to help build muscle mass and enhance athletic performance Designer Steroids – enhance anabolic, minimize androgenic effects Also chemically designed to minimize 1st pass metabolism to retain adequate bioavailability

7. 1954 World Weightlifting Championship • Soviet Union using testosterone • Dr. John Ziegler – American Physician • Didn’t like strong androgenic effects • Ciba – Dianabol– orally active compound with enhanced anabolic properties • Breakfast of Champions • Ziegler regretted helping to create monster

8. Regulations • Mid 1980s – Steroids were reaching high school level • U.S. Congress (1988 & 1990) – Anabolic Control Act of 1991 • Classified 27 anabolic steroids as Schedule III • Also, banned by many amateur and pro sports organizations • NFL, MLB, NCAA, & International Olympic Committee

9. Specific Patterns and Combinations • Endurance athlete and sprinters – low doses • Bodybuilding and strength athletes – high doses • May take up to 100 times more than therapeutic dose

10. Cycling • Often used in patterns called cycling • Cycles – typically 6-12 weeks in duration with periods of abstinence between successive cycles • Use cycles (based on anecdotal information): • To minimize development of tolerance • Reduce occurrence of adverse side effects • To maximize performance at an athletic event • To avoid detection of a banned substance

11. Pyramiding • Cycling sometimes combined with pyramiding • Pyramiding – steroid dose is gradually increased until the midpoint of the cycle, then gradually decreased as the cycle is completed • Thought to reduce possible withdrawal effects resulting from sudden termination

12. Stacking • Simultaneous use of two or more anabolic steroids • Often done by combining a short-acting oral steroid with a long-acting injectable preparation • They think it enhances effectiveness, but not true

13. Pharmacology of AS • Mechanism of Action not fully understood • Testosterone and other androgens are agonists at androgen receptor • Receptor is located in the cytoplasm of cell in inactive state • Androgen molecules diffuse across cell membrane, bind and activates receptor

14. Pharmacology Cont. • Activated hormone-receptor complex translocates into cell nucleus, where it regulates the transcription of specific genes, depending on cell type • Haven’t yet identified specific muscle cell genes that are turned on by androgens • But overall effect is to increase protein synthesis and growth of the muscle

15. Pharmacology Cont. • Testosterone converted enzymatically to two other bioactive hormones • In some tissues – 5α reductase converts T to dihydrotestosterone(DHT), which also has potent androgenic effects • Some synthetic AS were designed to avoid this metabolic reaction because it decreases ratio of anabolic to androgenic activity • Aromatase converts T to estradiol in a chemical reaction called aromatization • Extremely undesirable – leads to feminizing side effects • Some synthetics modified to resist aromatization

16. Pharmacology Cont. • Recent evidence that AS treatment can induce androgen receptor expression in muscle • Increasing the # of androgen receptors in the tissue would allow steroids to produce greater anabolic effects than they would in the presence of normal receptor expression • At high levels, androgens act as antagonists to glucocorticoid hormones • In muscle, GCCs are catabolic – produce an overall decrease in protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown • A 2nd M of A for AS could be their anticatabolic effects via glucocorticoid antagonism

17. Oral Steroids → Liver Toxicity • Which side effects occur depends on: • Sex • Age • Type of Steroid Used (Oral or Injectable) • Dose • Pattern and Duration of Use Adverse Side Effects muscleenhancers.com

18. Table of Side Effects • For Girls: • Facial hair • Deep voice • Increased body hair • Irregular periods • Increased appetite • Enlarged clitoris • For Boys: • Breasts • Shrunken testicles • For Both: • Severe acne • Baldness • Liver abnormalities and tumors • Angry outbursts (“roid rage”) or aggressive behavior • Paranoia • Hallucinations • Psychosis • Blood clots http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/89/8/0.1.full.pdf

19. Behavioral Debate Do steroids cause increased irritability and aggression? Do users develop dependence on anabolic steroids? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiU5-AAjb40

20. Dependence? Dependence Criteria • DSM commonly reported signs of dependence • Withdrawal when stopped • Taking more than originally intended • Inability to cut down or control usage despite a desire to do so • Pre-occupation • Continued Substance use despite problems • Replacement of other activities with substance abuse • Fatigue • Depressed Mood • Insomnia • Restlessness • Anorexia • Decrease libido • Dissatisfaction with body image • Cravings Withdrawal Symptoms

21. Dependence Cont. • Absence of large-scale controlled studies hamper the evaluation of AS dependence • No published reports of self-administration by animals of testosterone or any other anabolic steroids • Can produce rewarding effects • Positive Reinforcement – performance boosting, better body image • Cravings are relatively weak

22. Why care? • Dangerous physical and psychological effects • Can stop growth and have voice changes • After stopping, people can experience depression and moodiness • Injectable steroids have an AIDS risk by sharing needles • Steroids without prescriptions may be faulty or not be steroids at all

23. Steroids Before and After getmascular.blogspot.com bodybuilding.elitefitness.com

24. References • http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/89/8/0.1.full.pdf • bodybuilding.elitefitness.com • getmascular.blogspot.com • http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2009/05/central_fla_man_implicates_nat.html