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Steroids affect the neurotransmitter systems of the brain
Nandrolone has long-term effects
It has been demonstrated that testosterone and anabolic steroids affect the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) both in laboratory animals and humans. Their sites of action in the brain are closely connected to the brain areas regulating mood, sexuality and aggression [1].
Many people who use excessively high doses of anabolic steroids often experience during or after the use mood disorders that fulfill the criteria of psychiatric classification of diseases, such as depression, anxiety, psychotic reactions and cognitive impairment [2].
Steroids affect the neurotransmitter systems of the brain
Research data indicates that steroids affect the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems of the brain. We have discovered in our animal studies that an anabolic steroid, nandrolone, alters the response of the dopamine system to stimulating drugs: the release of neurotransmitters triggered by the drugs decreases, i.e. the pleasure caused by the drug decreases [3, 4]. There are also studies that demonstrate how androgenic compounds can directly activate the release of dopamine and serotonin [5, 6] in the brain.
The misuse of anabolic steroids in high doses may harm several organs and functions, and cause both physical and psychiatric illnesses. It is worth noting that research has shown that many of these symptoms are long-term and continue for a prolonged period of time after the user has stopped using these substances [7, 8].
The large doses that many users are known to take have been shown to cause programmed cell death in several cell types, including neurons [9]. This might result in irreversible neurological changes. The misuse of anabolic steroids has also been linked to psychiatric illnesses and increased use of other drugs.
We have studied the effects of an anabolic steroid, nandrolone decanoate, on the brain's dopaminergic and serotonergic system in doses that afford the results commonly sought by users.
We were interested in whether nandrolone alters the immediate neurochemical and behavioral effects of cocaine in laboratory animals. We have also sought to determine the persistence of the changes caused by nandrolone in the neural circuits of the brain and the time it takes for the changes to return back to the normal levels. [10]
Nandrolone has long-term effects
Our results show very strongly that nandrolone has long-term effects on the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems of the brain. Even though the levels of nandrolone decreased and eventually disappeared from a rat's blood, the changes caused by nandrolone were still detectable. [10]
In the dopamine system, it took approximately five times the duration of the dosing period before the changes had reverted to the level before the dosing. In the serotonin system, it took six times the duration of the dosing period before the changes had reverted to the level before the dosing. The effects of an anabolic steroid to the dopamine and serotonin systems of the CNS seem to be reversible, but it takes a very long time compared to the dosing period. [10]
To summarise, it can be stated that the use of anabolic steroids might cause particularly long-lasting changes in the users' neurotransmitter circuits. The serotonin system reacts more strongly to nandrolone dosing than the dopamine system. This supports the previously observed side effects of aggression and mood swings, because decreased levels of serotonin in the brain are linked to aggressive and uncontrolled behavior both in humans and animals.
Based on the results of our study, the pauses that the users commonly take between courses are not sufficiently long to allow the function of the studied CNS neurotransmitter circuits to return to their baseline level. And when a new course begins before the previous changes have had time to revert back to normal, the new changes might be more extensive than the previous ones and the effects might last even longer.
References:
[1] Giammanco, Tabacchi, Giammanco, Di Majo & La Guardia (2005): Testosterone and aggressiveness. Medical Science Monitor Apr;11(4):RA136-45.
[2] Bahrke, Yesalis, Kopstein & Stephens (2000): Risk factors associated with anabolic-androgenic steroid use among adolescents. Sports Medicine Jun;29(6):397-405.
[3] Kurling, Kankaanpaa & Seppala (2008): Sub-chronic nandrolone treatment modifies neurochemical and behavioral effects of amphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in rats. Behavioural Brain Research May 16;189(1):191-201.
[4] Kurling-Kailanto, Kankaanpaa & Seppala (2010): Subchronic nandrolone administration reduces cocaine-induced dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine outflow in the rat nucleus accumbens. Psychopharmacology Apr;209(3):271-81.
[5] de Souza Silva, Topic, Huston & Mattern (2008): Intranasal administration of progesterone increases dopaminergic activity in amygdala and neostriatum of male rats. Neuroscience Nov 11;157(1):196-203.
[6] de Souza Silva, Mattern, Topic, Buddenberg & Huston (2009): Dopaminergic and serotonergic activity in neostriatum and nucleus accumbens enhanced by intranasal administration of testosterone. European Neuropsychopharmacology Jan;19(1):53-63.
[7] Kanayama, Cohane, Weiss & Pope (2003): Past anabolic-androgenic steroid use among men admitted for substance abuse treatment: an underrecognized problem? Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Feb;64(2):156-60.
[8] Lindqvist & Fahlke (2005): Nandrolone decanoate has long-term effects on dominance in a competitive situation in male rats. Physiology & Behaviour Jan 31;84(1):45-51.
[9] Estrada, Varshney & Ehrlich (2006): Elevated testosterone induces apoptosis in neuronal cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry Sep 1;281(35):25492-501.
[10] Kailanto, Kankaanpää & Seppälä (2011): Subchronic steroid administration induces long lasting changes in neurochemical and behavioral response to cocaine in rats. Steroids Nov;76(12):1310-6
Nandrolone has long-term effects
It has been demonstrated that testosterone and anabolic steroids affect the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) both in laboratory animals and humans. Their sites of action in the brain are closely connected to the brain areas regulating mood, sexuality and aggression [1].
Many people who use excessively high doses of anabolic steroids often experience during or after the use mood disorders that fulfill the criteria of psychiatric classification of diseases, such as depression, anxiety, psychotic reactions and cognitive impairment [2].
Steroids affect the neurotransmitter systems of the brain
Research data indicates that steroids affect the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter systems of the brain. We have discovered in our animal studies that an anabolic steroid, nandrolone, alters the response of the dopamine system to stimulating drugs: the release of neurotransmitters triggered by the drugs decreases, i.e. the pleasure caused by the drug decreases [3, 4]. There are also studies that demonstrate how androgenic compounds can directly activate the release of dopamine and serotonin [5, 6] in the brain.
The misuse of anabolic steroids in high doses may harm several organs and functions, and cause both physical and psychiatric illnesses. It is worth noting that research has shown that many of these symptoms are long-term and continue for a prolonged period of time after the user has stopped using these substances [7, 8].
The large doses that many users are known to take have been shown to cause programmed cell death in several cell types, including neurons [9]. This might result in irreversible neurological changes. The misuse of anabolic steroids has also been linked to psychiatric illnesses and increased use of other drugs.
We have studied the effects of an anabolic steroid, nandrolone decanoate, on the brain's dopaminergic and serotonergic system in doses that afford the results commonly sought by users.
We were interested in whether nandrolone alters the immediate neurochemical and behavioral effects of cocaine in laboratory animals. We have also sought to determine the persistence of the changes caused by nandrolone in the neural circuits of the brain and the time it takes for the changes to return back to the normal levels. [10]
Nandrolone has long-term effects
Our results show very strongly that nandrolone has long-term effects on the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems of the brain. Even though the levels of nandrolone decreased and eventually disappeared from a rat's blood, the changes caused by nandrolone were still detectable. [10]
In the dopamine system, it took approximately five times the duration of the dosing period before the changes had reverted to the level before the dosing. In the serotonin system, it took six times the duration of the dosing period before the changes had reverted to the level before the dosing. The effects of an anabolic steroid to the dopamine and serotonin systems of the CNS seem to be reversible, but it takes a very long time compared to the dosing period. [10]
To summarise, it can be stated that the use of anabolic steroids might cause particularly long-lasting changes in the users' neurotransmitter circuits. The serotonin system reacts more strongly to nandrolone dosing than the dopamine system. This supports the previously observed side effects of aggression and mood swings, because decreased levels of serotonin in the brain are linked to aggressive and uncontrolled behavior both in humans and animals.
Based on the results of our study, the pauses that the users commonly take between courses are not sufficiently long to allow the function of the studied CNS neurotransmitter circuits to return to their baseline level. And when a new course begins before the previous changes have had time to revert back to normal, the new changes might be more extensive than the previous ones and the effects might last even longer.
References:
[1] Giammanco, Tabacchi, Giammanco, Di Majo & La Guardia (2005): Testosterone and aggressiveness. Medical Science Monitor Apr;11(4):RA136-45.
[2] Bahrke, Yesalis, Kopstein & Stephens (2000): Risk factors associated with anabolic-androgenic steroid use among adolescents. Sports Medicine Jun;29(6):397-405.
[3] Kurling, Kankaanpaa & Seppala (2008): Sub-chronic nandrolone treatment modifies neurochemical and behavioral effects of amphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in rats. Behavioural Brain Research May 16;189(1):191-201.
[4] Kurling-Kailanto, Kankaanpaa & Seppala (2010): Subchronic nandrolone administration reduces cocaine-induced dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine outflow in the rat nucleus accumbens. Psychopharmacology Apr;209(3):271-81.
[5] de Souza Silva, Topic, Huston & Mattern (2008): Intranasal administration of progesterone increases dopaminergic activity in amygdala and neostriatum of male rats. Neuroscience Nov 11;157(1):196-203.
[6] de Souza Silva, Mattern, Topic, Buddenberg & Huston (2009): Dopaminergic and serotonergic activity in neostriatum and nucleus accumbens enhanced by intranasal administration of testosterone. European Neuropsychopharmacology Jan;19(1):53-63.
[7] Kanayama, Cohane, Weiss & Pope (2003): Past anabolic-androgenic steroid use among men admitted for substance abuse treatment: an underrecognized problem? Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Feb;64(2):156-60.
[8] Lindqvist & Fahlke (2005): Nandrolone decanoate has long-term effects on dominance in a competitive situation in male rats. Physiology & Behaviour Jan 31;84(1):45-51.
[9] Estrada, Varshney & Ehrlich (2006): Elevated testosterone induces apoptosis in neuronal cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry Sep 1;281(35):25492-501.
[10] Kailanto, Kankaanpää & Seppälä (2011): Subchronic steroid administration induces long lasting changes in neurochemical and behavioral response to cocaine in rats. Steroids Nov;76(12):1310-6
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