Lecture Outline #8: Anabolic Steroids, and Their Effects
I. THE BIOLOGY OF STEROID HORMONES
1. All steroids come from cholesterol.
2. Steroids are lipid-soluble (i.e.,
fat-soluble) compoundsds that travel everywhere in
the body.
3. They easily pass through the cell membranes
to enter the cytoplasm of the cells.
4. Once in cytoplasm, steroids bind to
specific receptors and then enter nucleus of a cell.
5. Steroid-receptor complex
then can alter function of genes (and mRNA expression).
6. The gene/mRNA synthesis stimulates the
production of new proteins.
7. Steroids alter
function of many organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, and brain.
(They also have profound effects on reproductive
organs and hormone production.)
8. Dominant sex steroids in males are androgens
(with testosterone
being most important).
9. Most healthy males produce 2-10 mg of
testosterone/day. (females produce minimal).
10.
Increase muscle mass, strength, & endurance, and develop male sex
characteristics.
II. A SHORT HISTORY ON USE OF
PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS
III. GENERAL INFO ABOUT ANABOLIC STEROIDS AND
THEIR USE
1. Full name is androgenic (promoting
masculine traits) anabolic (building) steroids.
2. In 1994, 1,084,000 Americans (0.5% of
population) had used anabolic steroids.
3. In 2006, 2.7% of 12th-graders
had used anabolics. (45% strictly for "bulking
up")
4. Five times more males use this drug
than females.
5. On the black market, about $400-$500
million worth is sold per year.
6. Usually taken as a pill, but also injected
(HIV contamination of needles).
7. Medical use is 1-5 mg/day, but some athletes megadose to
hundreds of mg/day.
8. Many athletes do "stacking",
"cycling", or "shotgunning."
IV. THE DANGERS OF
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
1. Dangers
to both sexes: acne, jaundice, trembling, swelling of feet, bad breath,
lower HDL, high blood pressure, liver damage and cancers, aching joints,
increased injury to tendons, ligaments and muscles.
2. Dangers
to males: shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, impotence,
baldness, difficulty urinating, development of breasts, enlarged prostate.
3. Dangers
to females: growth of facial hair, enlargement of clitoris, cessation
of menstrual cycle, deepened voice, breast reduction.
4. Anabolic steroids can halt growth
prematurely in adolescents
5. Users develop psychological dependency
on the anabolics. (withdrawal
depression)
6. Wide mood swings to violent, homicidal
episodes known as "roid rages"
7. Anabolic steroids are now controlled
substances, and distribution is a prison offense.
Additional
www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/steroids.html
http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Steroids/AnabolicSteroids.html