Neuropharmacology: Anabolic Steroids

Drugs & Behavior:Steroids

Brian J. Piper, Ph.D.

Goals

• Neuroendocrinology• “Side effects”• Behavioral Effects• Neural Effects• Epidemiology

Terminology

• Steroid: created from cholesterol• Anabolism: metabolic process, building • Catabolic: metabolic process, breaks down• Estrogens: female hormones• Androgens: male hormones

Testosterone --------------------> Estradiol Aromatase

GnRH: Gonadotrophin Releasing HormoneFSH: Follicle Stimulating HormoneLH: Leutinizing Hormone

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/anabolic_steroids.html

Steroids and Animal Aggression

• Rats received different steroids (5 mg/kg) beginning at puberty (PD 40) for nine weeks.

• Resident-intruder aggression tests were conducted with and without a physical provocation.

• Adolescent steroid treatment caused a persistent increase in aggressive behavior.

Farell et al. (2004) Hormones & Behavior, 46, 193-203.

5.2

Aggression in Humans?

• Adult men were randomly assigned to receive escalating doses of testosterone or placebo.

• Testosterone increased self-rated mania and the Point Subtraction Aggression test.

Brain Changes

Male rats received

15 mg/kg of nandrolone for 14 days.

Brains were sectioned and the density of dopamine receptors were determined.

Steroid treatment had opposite

effects on D1 and D2 levels.

Dopamine (D1)Receptor Binding

Dopamine (D2)Receptor Binding

SteroidVehicle

Kindlundh et al. European J Neuroscience, 13, 291-296.

Famous Users

Famous UsersArnold Schwarzenegger Alex Rodriguez Ben Johnson Hulk Hogan

1970s 2001-2003 1988 1994

Epidemiology: Monitoring the Future

% UsinginPastYear

Sex Difference in Past Year Use

%Using

When does use start among 8th graders?

Year

PercentWhoUsedByGradeIndicated

Epidemiology: College Plans1.1

Epidemiology:Region and Urban vs. Rural