What is testosterone ?
Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in the male body . It is produced in the testes Leydingzellen , the amount of testosterone produced varied in the course of life . Testosterone secretion is highest during adolescence and decreases with age. Without an adequate amount of testosterone , the male reproductive system can not work.
A basic distinction between testosterone at two primary effects: the androgenic effect of testosterone and the anabolic effect of testosterone. The androgenic effect of testosterone is roughly responsible for the development and maintenance of masculine features and characteristics , whereas the anabolic effects of testosterone build-up of body tissues - primarily muscle tissue - causes . These are of course only rough generalizations of testosterone effects , such as the following detailed description of the androgenic and anabolic properties of testosterone will show.
Why is the basic understanding of testosterone important?
All anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic forms of the hormone testosterone, a derivative of testosterone or a structurally or functionally similar to testosterone hormone. Thus, many effects and side effects of testosterone more or less anabolic androgenic steroids can be transferred . This applies in particular for high- acting androgen anabolic androgenic steroids , because these anabolic androgenic steroids exert their androgenic activity at the same receptor , as well as naturally occurring testosterone and its derivatives.
The androgens and anabolic effects of testosterone
Androgenic effects of testosterone
Testosterone has a pronounced androgenic effect . Under androgenic agents ( which are also referred to briefly as androgens ) refers to substances that are responsible for the development and expression of male features and characteristics . This androgenic effects caused by activation of the androgen receptor in certain tissue types of the body. In this testosterone stimulation of androgen receptors is mainly done in a previous conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone ( DHT) , but testosterone itself can also bind to the androgen receptor.
The expression of the androgenic action of testosterone and / or other anabolic androgenic steroids is often more or less directly on the level of androgen levels (= sum of androgenic agents such as testosterone, dihydro testosterone, anabolic androgenic steroids ) in the body depend . An example of this would be the sebaceous glands. This increase its oil production when the androgen level rises . The higher the androgen levels , the stronger of the sebum and the greater depending on the personal assessment is a chance that it comes to acne due to clogged pores.
The anabolic effect of testosterone is particularly evident in adolescence . During this period, the testosterone level increases significantly and causes in adolescent male adolescents dramatic changes in appearance . The testosterone dedingten changes mainly concern the development of secondary male characteristics, such as :
deeper voice
Body
beard growth
Increased sebaceous gland , which can lead to acne
Development of primary sex organs
increased libido
sperm production
These and other effects of testosterone are also called androgenic or masculinizing effects of testosterone. If the list of testosterone -induced changes you look more closely, you will discover side effects that may occur with the use of artificially produced testosterone and / or more or less androgenic anabolic androgenic steroids acting . Especially dramatic is the impact of masculinizing properties of testosterone like facial hair , body hair, and deepening of the voice in women who use testosterone or anabolic androgenic steroid with a pronounced androgenic effect .
An example occurs with age androgenic side effects of Testosterone is the androgenic hair loss in men , for which the activity of dihydro- testosterone ( a derivative of testosterone) is responsible in the field of hair follicles. This view is , however, something isolated , since the androgenic hair loss is caused by a general effect of androgens to the corresponding androgen receptors and is not limited to dihydro- testosterone. So basically all acting anabolic androgenic androgenic steroids can cause or exacerbate this type of hair loss directly without conversion to dihydro- testosterone.
The effects of androgens such as testosterone and dihydro- testosterone are of course not limited to puberty and subsequent side effects. Androgens - testosterone in particular - are responsible for maintaining libido, sexual function and many other functions in the body or in their maintenance .
Anabolic effects of testosterone
Under an anabolic effect is meant , as mentioned above, the establishment and maintenance of body tissue . In the case of testosterone , these are mainly muscle tissue and so is likely to represent the most interesting type of fabric for the athlete .
The direct anabolic effect of testosterone
In this context, the term explained in more detail below the androgen receptor might seem confusing at first glance , since the primary anabolic effect of testosterone on the activation of the androgen receptor of muscle cells is based . Such stimulation of the androgen receptor by testosterone (or other anabolic androgenic steroid ) causes the muscle cells synthesize a new protein , whereby the amount of the tissue of the muscle contractile and thus increase muscle mass .
If the amount of hormone increases ( in this case it does not matter whether it is the body's own testosterone exogenously supplied testosterone or anabolic androgenic steroids) , it increases the rate of activation of androgen receptors and thus the rate of protein synthesis , what in the end to a growth muscles leads . Furthermore , there is evidence that the glycogen stored in the muscles due to the androgenic effects of testosterone ( or other anabolic androgenic steroids ) is increased to the androgen receptor.
This kind of anabolic effect as a direct anabolic effect of testosterone (or anabolic androgenic steroid ), respectively. The direct anabolic effect of the skin caused by the androgenic anabolic steroids or exogenous testosterone induced muscle growth
The indirect anabolic effect of testosterone
Apart from the anabolic effects of testosterone (or anabolic androgenic steroids ) , based on a suggestion of the androgen receptor, there are other mechanisms that have an impact on the construction and maintenance of muscle tissue . Although testosterone has been researched for decades and produced artificially , we still do not understand all the indirect effects of testosterone and its effect on muscle tissue .
Indirect effects of testosterone (or anabolic androgenic steroids ) can eg Include influences of testosterone and other hormones to their distribution . Furthermore , other factors also contribute to the increased protein synthesis for muscle growth . These include, among other things, anti-catabolic , the breakdown of muscle protein counteracting processes , as well as the transport of nutrients and amino acids to the muscle cells and in the .
With regard to the first variant - a catabolic effects of testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids - there is strong evidence from scientific studies that could stimulate muscle growth to a second mechanism by which testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids, suggesting whereas testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids according to the current state of knowledge probably have no effect on the transport of amino acids and nutrients into the muscle cells. The second assumption is also supported by the fact that there is a very strong synergistic effect between testosterone ( and other anabolic androgenic steroids ) and insulin , nutrients and amino acids which the body's cells (especially muscle ) transported there .
The anabolic effects of testosterone can be increased significantly by increasing the amount of androgen on an external supply of testosterone or similarly acting anabolic androgenic steroids. This results in an increase of the incorporated amount of protein in the muscles , which is synonymous with the building of muscle mass .
In this context , the question arises to what extent the issue of direct and indirect effects of anabolic androgenic anabolic steroids can be transferred . First of all is that every anabolic androgenic steroid anabolic and androgenic effects has, in addition , that can be expanded by attaching to the androgen receptor. These are of course significant differences in androgen receptor affinity of different anabolic androgenic steroids. While testosterone and anabolic androgenic steroids such as the popular in the former GDR methyl -dihydro- testosterone have a strong androgen receptor affinity , have other anabolic androgenic steroids as methandienone ( Dianabol) and oxymetholone ( Anadrol ) only a relatively weak androgen receptor affinity.
In practice, this observation has led to the suggestion that anabolic androgenic steroid with a strong anabolic effect but only a weak androgen receptor affinity , such as Dianabol make an impact on indirect , not related to the androgen receptor associated mechanisms mainly . This results in the so-called two-class theory , be classified according to the anabolic androgenic steroids by their androgen receptor affinity in two classes developed . The class contains an anabolic androgenic steroids, which have a strong androgen receptor affinity and one goes under this theory assumes that these steroids exert their anabolic effect than direct anabolic effect primarily on androgen receptor. In the second class , which contains anabolic androgenic steroids, which have a weaker androgen receptor affinity , one goes in this two-class model assumes that these anabolic androgenic anabolic steroids exert their effects in the form of an indirect anabolic effect , which includes mechanisms not related to the androgen receptor in conjunction .
These two classes theory goes so far that is recommended in the case of the combination of different anabolic androgenic steroids, anabolic androgenic steroids always to combine different classes of anabolic androgenic steroids as these anabolic androgenic anabolic steroids exert their effect via different mechanisms according to the theory , and so could act synergistically . In turn, it is not recommended to combine two anabolic androgenic steroids together that belong to the same class of anabolic androgenic steroids, anabolic androgenic steroids as these would otherwise compete for the same receptor or mechanism of action and interfere with each other .
However, one should in such an approach to the combination of anabolic androgenic steroids note that this is based purely on observation and speculation and not proven scientific facts are based . The assumption that the effect of an anabolic androgenic steroid on androgen receptor depends only on the androgen receptor affinity of this anabolic androgenic steroid , can be many other factors involved. It is for example ignores the fact that different anabolic androgenic steroids have different half-lives for various types of anabolic androgenic steroids have a variety of estrogenic effects and that there are differences in the amount of drug that is bound to binding proteins such as SHBG . So for example bound in the body a large proportion of circulating testosterone ( up to 98 %!) to SHBG or albumin , and thus inactive , which however is not the case in Dianabol to that extent.
Would own the androgen receptor decide affinity via the direct anabolic effect of an anabolic androgenic steroid on androgen receptor , then have Metyl -dihydro- testosterone have a very strong direct anabolic effect , as it is the methylated form of the endogenous dihydro- testosterone a very strong androgen receptor affinity has . In practice, methyl -dihydro- testosterone , however, shows almost no anabolic effect , which is also in this area androgenic steroid use in the government- planned doping in the GDR. There methyl -dihydro- testosterone was used when you wanted to achieve a significant power increase without accompanying weight gain.
Mechanism of action of testosterone at the androgen receptor at the cellular level :
1 Testosterone, SHBG and albumin
After his release testosterone is present in free and in binding to the sex hormone binding globulin ( SHBG) or albumin -bound form . Only free testosterone but not SHBG -bound testosterone can interact with the cells of the body by binding to the corresponding receptors of the cells. Normally 98 % of testosterone in the body are the average man in bound form (45% bound to SHBG and 55 % bound to albumin ) before . This means that only 2% of the total testosterone present in free form and can be active at the androgen receptor ( In women , the proportion of free testosterone is as low as 1%).
Albumin and SHBG are the two main testosterone -binding substances in the body. There are other substances as the active only in the reproductive system ABP ( androgen binding protein ) , which bind testosterone , but these are negligible because of their tissue-specific effects or the small amount . The amount of albumin present in the body is about 1000 times greater than that of SHBG , but this is compensated by that testosterone has a better affinity to the factor 1000 for SHBG . Thus, the ratios of similar to albumin and SHBG -bound testosterone.
In artificially produced anabolic androgenic steroids the activity to a large extent depends on how high the affinity of the corresponding anabolic androgenic steroid for binding proteins such as SHBG and albumin. That the binding ability with respect to binding proteins may differ significantly for different anabolic androgenic steroids, show some examples from practice. Proviron has e.g. a stronger affinity for multiple binding proteins than testosterone , while Milberon and Bolasteron be as good as ever not bound by SHBG or albumin.
If one can also change as a steroidal molecule , the affinity of the steroid molecule is weaker for binding proteins , one obtains an anabolic androgenic steroid is much more active in the dosage itself and has a significantly greater effect on the androgen receptors , than the same amount of an anabolic androgenic steroid having a higher binding capacity with respect to these proteins.
However, it is a fallacy that testosterone and anabolic androgenic steroid binding proteins such as SHBG and albumin per se are poor and have no useful function. Sex hormone -binding proteins ensure a stable blood concentration of testosterone and facilitate a smooth transport of testosterone to different tissue types in the body . Furthermore, these proteins bound to protect them during transport before a testosterone metabolism , which would make the hormone testosterone ineffective . There may be other , as yet unknown mechanisms on which these binding proteins are involved. The discovery of a SHBG receptor to cells which possess androgen receptor , is a clear indication thereon .
2 Testosterone and the androgen receptor
Testosterone can attach only to cells which have the appropriate receptor , which is also referred to as androgen receptor . As with all hormonal receptors, this docking is based on the " lock and key " principle , which means that only to a receptor (in this case the androgen receptor) appropriate hormone ( testosterone here ) can bind to this receptor , like a key only fits into the matching lock.
Cells with androgen receptors include:
muscle
skin cells
Cells of the kidney ,
Cells of the CNS (central nervous system )
bone cells
prostate cells
This are for an athlete or bodybuilder muscle naturally the most interesting target for the effect of testosterone on the androgen receptor.
3 The intracellular end of the docking of a testosterone molecule to an androgen receptor
The exact sequence of the docking of testosterone hormone to the androgen receptor is as follows:
The testosterone molecule is combined with the intracellular androgen receptor , which is located in the cytosol of the cell to a receptor complex.
The complex of testosterone and androgen receptor migrates into the interior of the cell to the cell nucleus
Receptor complex in the nucleus of specific areas of DNA of docks , whereby the transcription of the corresponding genes is started. Transcription is the synthesis of RNA serving as a template using a DNA. There are basically 3 types of RNA (mRNA , tRNA and rRNA ), the mRNA for the athlete is most interesting , since it triggers the protein synthesis in the case of muscle cells, which grows among other things, the amounts of the two contractile proteins myosin and actin
After completion of the corresponding process , the complex is separated from testosterone molecule and androgen receptor , and both the testosterone molecule and the androgen receptor is returned to the cytosol of the cell. Here the testosterone molecule can either be active again or diffuse back into the bloodstream in order to subsequently interact with other cells
The described process is lengthy and takes several hours. It is interesting in this context to assume that the same process could lead to the formation of new androgen receptors , which result from a division of an existing androgen receptor, which is returns from the nucleus to the cytosol where it is separated from the linked testosterone molecule.
Further interesting features of testosterone, which are associated with the androgen receptor or the androgenic action of testosterone
In addition to the aforementioned primary androgenic effects of testosterone - the excitation of the protein synthesis by the action of testosterone to the androgen receptors of the muscle cells - and unwanted effects, such as the effect of testosterone and dihydro- testosterone on the receptors of the hair follicles and the resulting androgen - related hair loss , there are many other effects of testosterone that caused by stimulation of androgen receptors by testosterone or dihydro- testosterone in other tissues of the body can be .
Testosterone and body fat
In the body there is a more or less close relationship between body fat and androgen levels . When the androgen level rises , then usually the amount of stored body fat is reduced , whereas the percentage of body fat usually increases when the androgen levels drop .
To a certain extent this phenomenon is due to the fact that the Lipolysekapazität (capacity for the mobilization of body fat), the fat cells in adipose tissue is increased by elevated androgen levels . This is done indirectly through a presumably by androgens (testosterone, testosterone or dihydro- androgenic steroids ) resulted in change in the concentration of beta- adrenergic receptors (abbreviated as beta- beizeichnet ) of the cell and a general -stimulated adenylate cyclase , increased overall activity at the cellular level .
More importantly in this context , the ratio of androgens (testosterone, dihydro- testosterone or androgenic steroids) to estrogen. Estrogen promotes storage of body fat and thus counteract the stimulation of lipolysis induced by androgens . For this reason it is when you want to lose fat , make sense to increase the androgen level while keeping the estrogen level as low as possible . One hand this can be done by non- aromatizing anabolic androgenic steroids are used (as flavor refers to the conversion of testosterone and anabolic androgenic steroids into estrogen ) , or that it reduces the amount of estrogen produced what is possible through the use of aromatase inhibitors . These substances block the person responsible for the aromatization enzyme called aromatase , so no conversion of testosterone or other anabolic androgenic steroids is more possible to estrogen.
Testosterone and the red blood cells
In the kidneys, effected at the docking of the androgen testosterone receptors increased erythropoiesis ( production of red blood cells), thereby resulting in an increase in the concentration of red blood cells. In this way, the capacity for oxygen transport by the blood rises , which is beneficial in many sports (especially aerobic ) . The most prominent example would be the cycling where this increase in the number of red blood cells using EPO and blood infusions is achieved.
A stimulating erythropoiesis induced by almost all acting androgen steroids, since this effect is directly related to the activation of the androgen receptor in the cells of associated glands . It is a common misconception that only oxymetholone and boldenone can cause this effect . The only androgenic steroids, representing here a far exception , as they stimulate erythropoiesis only slightly , are androgenic steroids which are rapidly degraded by interaction with the 3Alpha - Hydroxisteroid dehydrogenase enzyme and thus only a small extent in the kidney cells may be actively . These include steroid hormones dihydro testosterone (DHT) and its derivatives.
Anabolic effects of testosterone that are not in communication with the testosterone receptor
The effect of testosterone on other hormones and their receptors
At this point by way of example to the action of glucocorticoid hormones testosterone and IGF-1, as well as their receptors, are described. These two hormones have more or less opposing effects. With IGF -1 ( insulin like growth factor 1) is a hormone acting on the muscle anabolic , whereas glucocorticoid hormones have a catabolic effect . Glucocorticoid hormones , including cortisol heard are so-called stress hormones that cause a release of muscle protein from the muscles and its breakdown for energy production .
The effect of testosterone on the activity of IGF -1 is partly due to an increase in IGF -1 secretion by testosterone and partly to an increase in IGF -1 receptor concentration by testosterone . Basically, the mentioned increase in the IGF-1 receptor density to react not more than a preparation of cells by testosterone it more sensitive to IGF-1.
There even seems to be that the IGF -1 production and the function of IGF -1 in the cells independently of growth hormone and IGF -1 levels are available directly dependent on testosterone. How could a study showed that in young men , which showed a lack of testosterone, IGF -1 receptor density was greatly reduced.
In the effect of testosterone on IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptors, thus is an anabolic effect of testosterone that are not related to the androgen receptor , together , while it is the effect of testosterone on the glucocorticoid receptors and their is an anti-catabolic effect of testosterone.
Why is it on IGF -1 is an anabolic effect of testosterone in the effect of testosterone, is more or less self-explanatory , as it is to be a anabolic hormone in IGF- 1, whose effect is enhanced by testosterone. Some readers may be wondering , however , why the anti-catabolic effects of testosterone in conjunction with the glucocorticoid hormones under the heading " Anabolic effects of testosterone " is listed . This is simply because that there is a net muscle growth when protein synthesis ( anabolic ) protein degradation ( catabolic ) exceeds . Exactly this scenario is when the anabolic effect of testosterone is more pronounced than the catabolic effects of cortisol and other glucocorticoid hormones . Although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood , inhibit testosterone and anabolic androgenic steroids even with a strong calorie deficit proven to protein degradation .
The relationship between anabolic and catabolic effects of testosterone effect of cortisol is likely to move in a larger testosterone quantities , for two reasons towards anabolic effect of testosterone. On one hand, the anabolic effect of testosterone increases with the amount of testosterone and the other with high probability testosterone has an effect on the Glukokortikoidhormonrezeptoren which reduces the catabolic action of glucocorticoid hormones . There is strong evidence that testosterone has a strong affinity for the Glukokortikoidhormonrezeptor . This means that with increasing testosterone concentration more Glukokortikoidhormonrezeptoren be occupied by testosterone molecules so that cortisone no longer bind to these receptors, there can exert its effect . Furthermore, it is believed that testosterone Glukokortikoidrezeptorkomplexes hinders the binding of the DNA to the .
The influence of testosterone on the energy metabolism of muscle cells
Besides the already mentioned presumed greater glycogen storage in muscle cells by the androgenic effects of testosterone, androgenic agents such as testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids effects on the energy metabolism of muscle. One of these has to do with the effects of ATP metabolism.
ATP is the primary energy source for readily available energy in the muscles and in the rest of the body . ATP consists of an adenosine molecule to which three phosphate groups are connected via high-energy bond . When a muscle contraction for its energy needs , it will be provided in that of ATP molecules per one phosphate group is cleaved , wherein energy is released . Remain ADP ( adenosine , a molecule with two attached phosphate groups) and a free phosphate group. ATP , however, the supply is sufficient for only a very brief period of muscle contraction , and must be made ??by a process , wherein by means of ATP from creatine phosphate, ADP , can be replenished. However, this process does not proceed quickly enough to restore intense muscular effort ATP at the same rate as it is degraded . Once is not enough ATP available to the muscle performance and decrease fatigue occurs.
At this point, testosterone or anabolic androgenic steroids come into play. Testosterone and anabolic androgenic steroids promote the synthesis of creatine and creatine phosphate in the muscles. More creatine phosphate means a faster ATP resynthesis to a greater extent , resulting in a longer lasting ability of muscles to deliver services with high intensity result . The muscle is simply expressed thus greater strength and endurance . While this is not strictly a direct anabolic effect of testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids, but in the end promotes greater muscle performance for faster muscle growth .
The conversion of testosterone to dihydro- testosterone (DHT ) and estrogen
Testosterone in the body is used as substrate for the production of other hormones. The most important ones are estrogen and dihydro- testosterone. Although it amazing appears at first glance that the male sex hormone testosterone can be converted into the female sex hormone estrogen, this is closer inspection of an estrogen molecule and a testosterone molecule in direct comparison less surprising, since both molecules with respect to their structure very are similar. Interestingly, estrogen is produced exclusively by conversion of testosterone to estrogen in the male body. While it is Estrogen is a hormone that understandably does not androgen , dihydro- testosterone has a factor of three to four more androgenic than testosterone.
The synthesis of estrogen and testosterone from testosterone - dihydro carried out using appropriate enzymes , which are present in specific tissue types in the human body. Estrogen is produced from testosterone by the enzyme aromatase . The aromatase enzyme is present in different tissue types in the body , which include adipose tissue , skeletal muscle , liver , gonads ( sexual glands ) and central nervous system . The process of conversion of testosterone to estrogen is also known as flavoring .
Testosterone is converted by 5 -alpha reductase enzyme in dihydro- testosterone. Here, the double bond between the fourth and fifth carbon atom of the testosterone molecule are removed, and two hydrogen atoms are added to the testosterone molecule. By removing this double bond of testosterone molecule creates a dihydro- testosterone molecule that can attach easily to the androgen receptor and thus a higher androgen receptor has affinity.
The 5- alpha reductase enzyme is present only in certain tissues of the body for the body and provides a mechanism for , in exactly the areas where a stronger androgen action is needed to specifically convert testosterone to androgenic acting dihydro- testosterone. These tissues include prostate , scalp , skin, liver and central nervous system . Due to the activity of 5 -alpha reductase enzyme in these types of tissue reaches almost exclusively dihydro- testosterone and testosterone hardly to the androgen receptors .
It should be noted that not only testosterone can be converted to dihydro- testosterone and estrogen . The same conversion processes take place in many anabolic androgenic steroids. Here, however, the extent of conversion of different steroid to steroid and there are some anabolic androgenic steroids, which can not be converted to estrogen and / or dihydro- testosterone due to their structure
With dihydro- testosterone and estrogen related side effects
The average user of anabolic androgenic steroids knows dihydro- testosterone and estrogen mainly due to the side effects caused by them . This view is somewhat one-sided, since both estrogen dihydro- testosterone in the body have important tasks and can also be for the benefit of users of anabolic androgenic steroids . More on that in shortly.
First to be discussed here on the aforementioned induced by estrogen and dihydro- testosterone side effects. Both estrogen- induced and dihydro- testosterone -related side effects occur only when dihydro- testosterone or estrogen are present in excessive amounts . Physiological amounts of estrogen and dihydro- testosterone call normally cause any side effects if one disregards the contingent androgenetic hair loss which can be already benefiting from regular dihydro- testosterone levels in corresponding disposition .
Excessive amounts of estrogen can lead to well-known estrogen-related side effects such as gynecomastia ( formation of female breast tissue ) , increased water retention and associated increase in blood pressure , and increased storage of body fat.
The caused of dihydro- testosterone side effects are basically not specific but general dihydro- testosterone androgenic side effects that may occur at any anabolic androgenic steroid because these side effects are directly related to the interaction with the androgen receptor in combination . How high is the probability that an anabolic androgenic steroid causes such side effects depend mainly on the androgen receptor affinity of the corresponding anabolic androgenic steroid. These androgenic side effects include acne, which is caused by excessive androgen activity in the area of the sebaceous glands and related androgenetic alopecia, for the excessive androgen activity in the region of the hair follicle is responsible .
Positive properties of dihydro- testosterone and estrogen
As already mentioned, dihydro- testosterone and estrogen are not accepted by many as steroid users , bad per se, but have in addition to their normal functions in the body also important features and effects that make them interesting for the user of steroids.
First to be discussed here on the merits of dihydro- testosterone , as these are much less complex in scope than that of estrogen. By conversion of testosterone to dihydro- testosterone , the androgenic effects of testosterone in many tissues is significantly enhanced because it is dihydro- testosterone is the most potent androgenic steroid that occurs naturally in the human body. As mentioned dihydro- testosterone is three to four times more androgenic than testosterone.
Of particular interest is the function of dihydro- testosterone in the central nervous system. As already briefly mentioned , have many cells of the central nervous system androgen receptors can bind to both testosterone and dihydro- testosterone (at this point should only testosterone and dihydro- testosterone are discussed , as these occur naturally in the body and their interaction is better explored with the central nervous system. principle could of course also other anabolic androgenic steroids bind to the androgen receptors of nerve cells).
As shown by various studies , provide both testosterone and dihydrotestosterone several hours after their administration, an increase in the number of androgen receptors in the nerve cells of the central nervous system, this increase was obtained for almost 24 hours only dihydro- testosterone. There are suspicions that testosterone and dihydro- testosterone may have a different effect in the nerve cells, which could be due to the fact that the testosterone - receptor complex and the dihydro- testosterone - receptor complex could activate the transcription of different genes in the nerve cell .
For this purpose , the fact would speak that many bodybuilders have made ??the experience that after taking a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor such as Finasteride , which increases in strength and mass only go slower during testosterone administration phase vonstatten . This could be related to muscles and nerves are closely connected with each other and interact. Both the ability of the muscles to adapt to a load or a training stimulus and the optimal recruitment of muscle fibers required for movement are dependent on a close interplay of nerves and muscles. Is this limited interaction , then this has the effect , among other things , that the muscle as a result of adaptation to the training stimulus is not optimal growing and that the force decreases as the optimum and maximum recruitment of muscle fibers is impaired.
When alone , the activation of the androgen receptor of the nerve cells would be due to testosterone or dihydro- testosterone is important , then there should be no interference , since testosterone can activate the androgen receptor. However, this is not the case, from which it can be concluded that dihydro- testosterone has important functions in muscle building . You should therefore carefully consider it as an athlete , whether to a reductase inhibitor such as finasteride , which inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydro- testosterone use , or not.
In addition to dihydro- testosterone has also spurned by many bodybuilders that estrogen some very interesting features and effects . In addition to pure health-giving properties such as lowering cholesterol levels (which in particular anabolic androgenic steroids such as Winstrol , which bring the cholesterol content of the body duly confused , could be interesting ) may even possess estrogen and thus promote the anabolic muscle building effects . These anabolic effects go far beyond the problems caused by an estrogen- related water retention gains in size , weight and power. Not for nothing do anabolic androgenic steroids such as testosterone, which convert to estrogen , as the best mass - steroids. Recent scientific findings could explain why this is the case .
An evaluation of the current study situation is strong evidence that both estrogen and the IGF -1 could increase growth hormone levels and that low levels of estrogen could reduce the release of these two anabolic hormones. As most readers should be aware of is that IGF - 1 is an anabolic hormone , which is responsible with respect to the increase in protein synthesis and nitrogen retention for the effect of growth hormones. A study could for example show that administration of testosterone enanthate caused a slight increase in IGF -1 levels. At first glance, one would assume , in this context , of course , that the testosterone is responsible for this increase .
A second study in which the levels of IGF -1 and growth hormone were examined for a testosterone replacement therapy , but it shows that this effect can be attributed to a larger probability of the estrogen. In this study, a group represented by testosterone, and testosterone, and a second group with the anti- estrogen tamoxifen ( Nolvadex ) was treated . In the group that received only testosterone, estrogen and an increase of testosterone was observed , whereas significantly decreased in the testosterone + tamoxifen group IGF -1 and growth hormone . This study is supported by other study results. Thus was supported by the fact that administration of nandrolone (Deca Durabolin ) , which does not convert to estrogen , causes no increase in IGF -1 levels over the former study, the assumption concerning the relationship of estrogen and amount of IGF -1 levels .
One might even suspect maybe now that the increase in IGF -1 levels with the androgenic effects of testosterone related . But even this can be proven wrong , in which the influence of a testosterone dose and an administration of dihydro- testosterone (which is more androgenic than testosterone by a factor of 3 to 4) was compared with another study . It showed that there were increased after testosterone administration of IGF -1 levels and growth hormone levels , whereas IGF-1 and growth hormone levels after administration of dihydro- testosterone, which noted incidentally can even sank not be converted to estrogen. There is another study that shows that the sole administration of the antiestrogen tamoxifen suppressed the IGF-1 Finally .
There is also evidence that estrogen stimulates the regeneration of the muscle tissue by raising the levels of glucose -6 -phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme. This enzyme is the use of glucose to support the growth of muscle tissue in conjunction and is critically important in determining the rate of synthesizing , required for cell regeneration and repair compounds, such as nucleic acids, and lipids, involved . After an intense workout, the levels of glucose -6 -phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme ( G6PD) increases dramatically to accelerate the regeneration of the damaged muscle tissue through the training .
In the context of various studies, it was shown that the G6PD levels increased after administration of testosterone. However, the observed increase was not hang together with the androgenic action of testosterone as a flavoring for anabolic androgenic steroids could not have this effect and does not cause any effect on the other, then the G6PD mirror could be observed when in combination with an aromatase inhibitor testosterone , which was preventing the conversion of test to estrogen Easter administered . These results strongly supports the view that the product obtained by aromatization of testosterone estrogen is responsible for the increase in G6PD levels. This assumption was corroborated by a further series of tests was administered with testosterone in combination with an anti -androgen and no increase in G6PD level was observed.
As was the case dihydro- testosterone is also present when estrogen the question of when taking an anti - estrogen or an aromatase inhibitor , which already blocks the conversion of testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids into estrogen , is useful , and when the intake of these substances bring more disadvantages than advantages .
If you look at the anabolic benefits of estrogen described above , then the income deduction is not difficult , that if mass building is the goal of using testosterone or anabolic androgenic steroids, would be useful to give as much as possible to antiestrogens and Aromtasehemmer . This is also consistent with the anecdotal observations of users of anabolic androgenic steroids that taking anti-estrogens slow the mass increases .
The situation is different if you want to primarily reduce body fat while taking testosterone or other anabolic androgenic steroids or if either estrogen related side effects may occur through the use of testosterone or other anabolic androgenic steroids. In the case of the use of testosterone and / or other anabolic androgenic steroids in a weight reduction phase can be quite advantageous to a lower estrogen levels , as described estrogen promotes the deposition of body fat. The necessity of taking anti-estrogens or aromatase inhibitors in the case of the occurrence of severe , induced by the administration of testosterone or other anabolic androgenic steroids, estrogen related side effects such as gynecomastia goes almost by itself
For people who do not tend to extreme estrogen-related side effects due to application of testosterone or other anabolic androgenic steroids, could be something extra , by the aromatization of testosterone or other anabolic androgenic steroids arising estrogen promote bulking quite while keeping the energy levels high .
In this context it should be mentioned that even aromatase inhibitors , which inhibit the formation of estrogen from testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids can have side effects. Many athletes who use very effective aromatase inhibitor , complain about an increased feeling of tiredness and fatigue occurring . This exhaustion is based on an extreme suppression of the conversion of testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids into estrogen , and may have the ability to train with full of energy and thus indirectly also affect the growth of new muscle mass and strength . In other words, blocking the conversion of testosterone or other androgenic anabolic steroids estrogen in reducing the growth of potentially possible steroid administration cycle by aromatase .
For this , a very low fatigue by blocking the conversion of testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids into estrogen estrogen is responsible . Estrogen supports the activity of serotonin ( the happy hormone called ) apply , with the result that the activity of serotonin inhibited at a very low estrogen levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain , which is essentially important for the attention and alertness , as well as the control of the sleep rhythm . A lack of serotonin or inhibition of serotonin , among other effects can lead to depression and the so-called chronic fatigue syndrome .
It should be noted that not all users experience these side effects of aromatase inhibitors . However, if you are prone to this , then you should think twice about whether you really want to use aromatase inhibitors . A similar effect can occur when only non aromatizing anabolic androgenic steroids are used . This block after some time the body's own testosterone production more or less complete and the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in the male body is the only process that can be produced by the estrogen . Consequently, the estrogen levels decrease with time and it can greatly similar side effects to occur when taking aromatase inhibitors .
Methods for increasing the amount of free testosterone
As has been mentioned elsewhere , are the average man only 2% of testosterone in free form. The residual testosterone is bound in approximately equal proportions of albumin and SHBG ( Sex Hormone Binding Globulin ) . Since only the free , unbound testosterone can exert its effect , it Währe course interesting if there was a way to increase the amount of free testosterone and reduce the amount of bound testosterone in return.
Fortunately, there are even more options , the amount of testosterone , which is present in free form to increase . The administration of anabolic androgenic steroids reduces the amount of SHBG significantly , however, it is regarding the lowering effect between the various anabolic androgenic steroids significant differences. Even the manner of administration of the corresponding anabolic androgenic steroid plays a role.
Within the framework of studies have shown that injected testosterone enanthate has a certain SHBG lowering effect. However, the SHBG lowering effect of anabolic androgenic steroid stanozolol ( Winstrol ) fails much more . The anabolic androgenic steroid Winstrol has reduced within 3 days by 50 % the amount of water present in the body SHBG , which in this case dosages used (converted 20mg Winstrol for a 100 -pound athlete ) came , which fall below the usual doses of this anabolic androgenic steroid significantly .
Interestingly, this dramatic reduction in SHBG levels appears only enter when the Winstrol anabolic androgenic steroid is administered orally. The administration of comparable amounts of this anabolic androgenic steroid in the form of injections only has a much weaker effect on de SHBG amount . This difference is probably due to the so-called first pass of an anabolic androgenic steroid in the liver. In the liver SHBG is also produced , which strongly suggests that the first pass through the liver oral anabolic androgenic steroids is so heavily loaded that they must reduce SHBG production in return.
In addition to lowering levels of SHBG using anabolic androgenic steroids, there are two endogenous hormones which have an influence on SHBG . These two hormones estrogen and thyroid hormones. The SHBG production appears to be at least dependent upon the amount of these two hormones in part . In practice , one can observe that the SHBG levels decrease when estrogen and thyroid hormone levels drop and that SHBG increases when the levels of these two hormones increase. Against this background, given the reduction in estrogen levels during administration of testosterone or other anabolic androgenic steroids a whole new meaning ...
The methods described so far are based on reducing the amount of SHBG . However, there is still a very different approach , in which one tries to tie the existing SHBG with other substances , so less free SHBG is present, which can bind testosterone or other anabolic androgenic steroids. It is important that these compounds have a higher affinity for SHBG than testosterone. In other words, competing these compounds with testosterone by SHBG and when the binding affinity of testosterone is lower, then less testosterone is bound by SHBG , since it is now more difficult is to find the testosterone molecule is a free SHBG molecule , which , logically, with the result that more free testosterone is present .
Some of anabolic androgenic steroids have a higher affinity to SHBG than does testosterone. These include anabolic androgenic steroids dihydro- testosterone, Mesterolone ( Proviron ) and Chlordehydromethyl - testosterone ( Oral Turinabol ) . When these anabolic androgenic steroids , together with testosterone or other androgenic anabolic steroids, which have a high affinity to SHBG , applied , then present in the free form or the corresponding amount of testosterone anabolic androgenic steroid with high affinity for SHBG is higher. These considerations shed new light on the combination of anabolic androgenic steroids among themselves or with testosterone.
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