1. Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Metabolic Pathway
PowerPoint by Maggie Spielman

2. Anabolic Androgenic Steroids
From testosterone (nineteen carbon atoms; four rings)
Stimulates muscle growth
Anabolic – building up
Androgenic – involving male sexual characteristics
Affect reproductive tissues, the liver and kidneys, the immune and central nervous systems

4. Lipid soluble hormone (testosterone or anabolic steroid)
Secretory Cell
Via Blood
Target Cell
Lipid soluble hormone (testosterone or anabolic steroid)
Plasma Membrane
Nucleus
Transport protein

6. Pathway Photos

8. Facts
Normal steroids (testosterone, estrogen) - initiate metabolism for production and consumption of energy
Androgen anabolic steroids (synthesized from testosterone) – lead to growth and enhancement or masculine characteristics in the body
Normally, testosterone levels vary from ,070 ng/dL in adult males, but only ng/dL in adult females

9. Effects
Everyone - increased acne, baldness, bad breath, aching joints, and increased risk of some cancers
Men – decrease in natural production of testosterone, reduced sperm production, development of breasts
Women – irreversible masculinizing: deep voice, decrease in breast size, facial hair, life threatening liver damage from 17a- alkylated steroids
Withdrawal symptoms – range from restlessness to suicidal thoughts and mania

10. Effects on Muscle Mass
1) increased production of protein
2) reduced recovery time by blocking cortisol, a stress hormone, on muscle tissue, so catabolism is greatly reduced