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How Does Steriods Exert Their Effect On Brain Neurotransmitters?

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Posted on Wed, 14 May 2014
Question: Hi. I would like to know how steroids exert their effect on brain neurotransmitters....is it through binding to the AR receptors, which in turn affect the neurotransmitters.

Or by direct action on the neurotransmitters?

I'm really anxious to know.....thanks and wishing you all the best
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Both the AR Binding and Central action at genetics

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking!
Androgen receptors and steroids use are correlated. Remember testosterone and % H Testosterone all are steroids and lipid soluble agents. They act by neuro transmitter binding mostly % H testosterone and also enter the neuron cells mostly oligodendrocytes and astrocytes where they manipulate the genetics into synthesis of proteins and all the ingredients necessary for myelination.Previously it was limited to anti inflammation effect of corticosteroids only but now testosterone therapy has prove defective. In addition to the strong effect of testosterone on myelin repair, the number of activated astrocytes and microglial cells returned to low control levels, indicating a reduction of neuroinflammatory responses. In one study of After the acute demyelination of cerebellar slices in organotypic culture, the remyelinating actions of testosterone could be mimicked by 5α-dihydrotestosterone, a metabolite that is not converted to oestrogens, and blocked by the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide. If the cuprizone or any ganglionic toxin has been induced in which case this therapy does not work.
I nutshell, AR receptor binding as well genetic mRNA induced synthesis of new myelination materials is all the result and proved efficacious effect of steroids and testosterones and all steroid hormones.
I hope it helps.Don't forget to close the discussion please.
Take care
S Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)
Thank you Dr Shafi Ullah for the valued advice.

I believe neurotransmitters are present in neuron cell membranes. For example kisspeptin.

Does the steroid act directly on the kisspeptin, or indirectly via genetic?

doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No correlation between the two

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking!
Kisspeptin is not a receptor it is a neurotransmitter found in serum levels and is indicated for Central precocious puberty to differentiate it from premature thelarche.It acts via G receptor coupled mediation via the ligand for the G-protein coupled receptor GPR54. Manipulation of gonadotropic hormonal axis is what it does result in CPP / Central Precocious puberty and premature thelarche.
I hope it helps. It has no direct correlation to steroids.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (33 hours later)
thank you for answer.

I have one more question regarding growth of internal organs. Growth of internal organs stops as we reach 21. Coincidentally , at this age, growth hormone starts to decrease.

So is the stopping of growth of internal organs due to GH decline, or due to other factors?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (28 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Game of hormones, well played ! :P

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking again!
Growth never stops. Cells are in constant growth and degeneration process. Some cells like neurons and terminal end organs like kidneys etc though go in to resting phase called G0 phase in mitotic growth cycle.
Growth hormones are responsible for growth of body stature and all other organs through the synthesis of somatomedins 1 and 2 which get produced mostly from liver. Now the reason for decreasing growth hormones at age 21 is because of fusion of growth plates at that age. If the growth hormones don't stop at that phase then it leads to a condition called acromegaly and that leads to quite a trouble where long bones fusion leads to shift in axis of growth and still to be fused bones like clavicle and jaw bones etc lead to many endocrinological abnormalities and also metabolic disorders.
So you are confusing a lot of hormonal processes which takes a lot of guidance and expertise to get a clear concept about.
I appreciate your candor for listening and your interest in this complicated game of hormones.I would be happy to help if you need any more clarification. You can reach my inbox directly at YYYY@YYYY .
I hope it helps. Dont forget to close the discussion please.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (42 hours later)
THank you Dr XXXXXXX

Lets consider my penile muscle cells after the steroid treatment i had.

Muscle cells obvioulsy dont get replaced, so the increase in size would be increase in size of actuall cells.

Today, is all thats not been remodelled from these cells the actual DNA itself?

Best regards
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Steroid hormones and steroids are different

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me!
I am sorry but i didn't understand the question details. From what i understand you meant that how steroids affect the size of the penis and how is the remodelling of of penile cells associated with DNA.
You are right. Most of the hormones which decide the length of the penis are all steroid hormones and they are responsible for the length of the penis. Usually the index finger is correlated with the size of the penis. Normal average measurements are mentioned below.
Mean testicular volume = 16.9 ± 4.7 cm 3;
total penile length, 12.18 ± 1.7 cm;
penile shaft length, 7.76 ± 1.3 cm;
glandular length, 4.4 ± 0.4 cm; and
penile shaft volume, 46.5 ± 17.2 cm 3
If the size of penis lies in this range then there is nothing to worry about. If not then a consult to an endocrinologist for the hormonal imbalances and microphallus etiology needs to be ruled out.
Now how does steroids affect the length of the penis? Steroids have the glucose sparing effects and thus leads to negative nitrogen balance and protein catabolism. But that is mostly the skeletal muscles. Penis is mostly the spongy network which gets engorged due to blood retention during coital episodes with increased inflow and decreased out flow.
So penis will be spared from glucose sparing effects of steroids unless there is no other protein left to catabolise which is a lethal end any how. As buttock fats are the last resort of survival in dehydration.
I hope it help.And yes muscle cells don't get replaced but grow in size. And any thing whether growth or increase in number or size is all planned from genome of DNA so yes to all.
Let me know if i answered what were you looking for. Dont forget to close the discussion please.
Take care.
S. Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (54 minutes later)
Dear Dr XXXXXXX Thank you for your valued advice.

My concern is i had low dose anabolic steroid aged 14 , and worried about impact on my sex organs. I wasnt worried because penile cells turnover every few months or so, but then found they contain smooth muscle - and muscle doesnt renew.... instead they just grow in size.

But which parts grow? Of course DNA stays the same...but does the nucleus grow? And is nucleus replacable with dna remaining intact during this renewing process?

Thanks and wishing you all the best
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
AAS abuse needs management

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for making it a bit more clear!
Now that you mentioned you had an anabolic steroids abuse i need you to seek an endocrinologist as these AAS mess with the hormonal axis and lead to hypogonadism. Stop worrying about the DNA and nucleus thing that is not an issue. Just get an endocrinologist and get all the need you can. Stop using that thing. Get your hepatic, hematologic, dermatologic and urologic and cardiac adverse effects.
AAS abuse has been on rampant these days. DOnt worry about the smooth muscles. You will get hypogonadism if the hormonal axis does not get corrected soon.
Read this article to know more about the anabolic steroid abuse.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/128655-overview#a30

I hope it helps.
Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (22 hours later)
Thanks again,

But im concerned the steroid had a 'growth effect' on my muscle cells and its nucleus within my penile tissue - and this growth is everlasting since nucleus cannot be 'renewed' .

Maybe steroids doesnt increase size of nucleus?

Maybe nucleus is renewable?


Kindly could you clarify and reassure if possible.

Wishing u all the best. Regards
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Stop worrying and seek endocrinologist

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking!
Steroids have been explained in best of possible details by me. Nucleus never renew, it may divide into two but that needs cell division and active mitosis and muscles don't fit that. Steroids has nothing to do with nucleus. Nucleus has just its target receptors where steroid after acting commands the different genomic material to make things like muscle size increase by some proteins synthesis and so on.
I told you , you have bigger fish to fry , this concept making maneuver can wait.
Get to an endocrinologist and let them assess the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism secondary to steroids use. And associated adverse effects of this abuse the details of which have been covered in article.
Please close the discussion and take good care of yourself. If you have any issues my cell number is 0000. call me or text me or inbox me at YYYY@YYYY .
I hope i was of some help
Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (5 hours later)
Thank you Dr XXXXXXX for your valued advice .

In another place i was told that anabolic steroids increase muscle cell size including the nucleus itself....this is why im asking about nucleus renewal, in the hope that any 'growth effect' has already been renewed.

Of course muscle cells do not divide, they grow in size...but which parts? And are these parts replacable?

Thanks and Best Wishes,
XXXXX


doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Explaind in details

Detailed Answer:
Thank you again Mr XXXXX!
I will repeat, where ever you studied this protein exaggerating effects of penis ,it is fruitless. I will tell you why but let me tell you how AAS affect reproductive system, a major adverse effect amongst four other one.
In men, AAS administration produces a predictable, dose-dependent depression of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) through negative feedback of the pituitary-gonadal axis. Because both LH and FSH are required for normal spermatogenesis, AAS use can lead to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The resulting effects include a decline in sperm count, abnormal sperm morphology, and testicular atrophy. Severe oligospermia is common during continued AAS use and occurs in an estimated 75% of users. Normalization of sperm counts generally occurs within 4 months of AAS discontinuation. However, the normalization of sperm motility and morphology requires more than 4 months and may take more than a year.

In an attempt to counteract testicular atrophy, male users will occasionally use human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG can mimic the effect of LH to boost testicular testosterone production and yield an increase in sperm production. However, FSH activity is required for completion of spermatogenesis and is not promoted by hCG. Therefore, in theory, sperm counts may be increased by hCG administration but may not be viable. However, 2 cases of successful treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with hCG have been reported.AASs can also lead to feminization in males from their conversion to estrogenic metabolites. As a result, increased voice pitch and gynecomastia may occur in some men.AAS users have used the antiestrogenic agent tamoxifen to antagonize these effects.The efficacy and safety of this strategy remains unproven. AAS use in women can lead to hirsutism, acne, deepening of the voice, clitoral hypertrophy, decreased breast mass, and male pattern baldness and can sometimes be irreversible, even with discontinuation of the offending agent.
Now i hope t is clear how and why are you misconcepted. I am explaining the negative nitrogen balance effects and thus protein losing results of steroids and you insist that it increases penile size.
I will explain how AAS works for the last time to make it clear to you.
AASs have several proposed mechanisms related to the enhancement of athletic performance. In addition to the promotion of protein synthesis, they include antagonism of glucocorticoid catabolic effects, increased red blood cell production, and central nervous system effects.During stress (eg, vigorous athletic training) the catabolic effects of glucocorticoids generate a negative nitrogen balance, which the body counteracts by using protein stores. AASs oppose this effect, possibly through competition for glucocorticoid binding sites. Performance may also be increased in AAS users secondary to increased erythropoietin synthesis and subsequent increases in hematocrit and oxygen-carrying capacity. Historically, one of the few indications for AASs was to increase hematocrit in hemodialysis patients. In conjunction with AAS-induced sodium retention, the blood volume may increase as much as 15%. Anecdotal reports have also suggested some central effects of the AASs, including euphoria, decreased fatigue, and, most importantly, shortened recovery time following work-outs, thus enabling athletes to increase and accelerate their training schedules. The mechanism for these effects and the potential benefits for athletic performance are unknown.
I hope it helps. Just discontinue the drug and you will be back to normal after a few months a year at tops. get to an endocrinologist meanwhile and stop worrying about it.
Take care and dont forget to close the discussion please.
S Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (2 hours later)
Thanks again Dr XXXXXXX for your valued advice.

The reason why i insist it increases penile size is i took at aged 14 when i was in early puberty and not yet adult. So my penile organ was sensitive to anabolic steroids and was in growing stage.

Normally, when penile size increases during puberty and in particular penile muscles, size of muscle cells must increase? But which parts of the muscle cell.....and do these parts get renewed (are the protein parts?)

Best regards
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
:)

Detailed Answer:
Thank you again!
The penile shaft is composed of 3 erectile columns, the 2 corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum, as well as the columns' enveloping fascial layers, nerves, lymphatics, and blood vessels, all covered by skin (see the following images). The 2 suspensory ligaments, composed of primarily elastic fibers, support the penis at its base.
So you see that it is more a spongy tissue and vasculatures and game of inflow and outflow is all played by hormones. What you had in your penile growth could be compromised by the anabolic steroids only had it been a chronic abuse for long term. So i would say again steroids do not induce protein anabolism.It leads to Protein catabolism. If penis size grows all these three erectile columns along with connective tissue grow together and if any get compromised, genital organ remains small. Stop this obsession of protein increase by steroids. It wasn't steroids,It was inbuilt geni=omin to be happened thing which might have been compromised if the steroids use was long term. If your penile length is in normal range which is usually correlated with an index finger , then you are fine. I already mentioned average penile sizes and dimensions in my previous answer.
The part of skeletal muscles which increase are its organelles like Mitochondria, cytoskeleton, sarcomeric units, All the troponins, myosins and actins get doubled and increased. As each has its own function. every organelle increase in size except the nucleus where just more transcription occurs. Nucleus does not grow, the hidden portion is decreased and more portion starts encoding resulting in gene triplets and mRNA and resultant proteins.But none by anabolic steroids. Thats an illusion of anabolism to the contrary fact of catabolic nature of steroids.
I hope it is all clear now.
Regards
S Khan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

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How Does Steriods Exert Their Effect On Brain Neurotransmitters?

Brief Answer: Both the AR Binding and Central action at genetics Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking! Androgen receptors and steroids use are correlated. Remember testosterone and % H Testosterone all are steroids and lipid soluble agents. They act by neuro transmitter binding mostly % H testosterone and also enter the neuron cells mostly oligodendrocytes and astrocytes where they manipulate the genetics into synthesis of proteins and all the ingredients necessary for myelination.Previously it was limited to anti inflammation effect of corticosteroids only but now testosterone therapy has prove defective. In addition to the strong effect of testosterone on myelin repair, the number of activated astrocytes and microglial cells returned to low control levels, indicating a reduction of neuroinflammatory responses. In one study of After the acute demyelination of cerebellar slices in organotypic culture, the remyelinating actions of testosterone could be mimicked by 5α-dihydrotestosterone, a metabolite that is not converted to oestrogens, and blocked by the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide. If the cuprizone or any ganglionic toxin has been induced in which case this therapy does not work. I nutshell, AR receptor binding as well genetic mRNA induced synthesis of new myelination materials is all the result and proved efficacious effect of steroids and testosterones and all steroid hormones. I hope it helps.Don't forget to close the discussion please. Take care S Khan