Polycythemia: a mystery solved by history

Testosterone is responsible for increased muscle mass. Leaner body mass helps control weight and increases energy. High levels of testosterone help build muscles and also stimulate growth in strength. Androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) are drugs that are structurally related to the cyclic steroid rings system and have similar effects to testosterone in the body. Athletes who abuse steroids do so for muscle growth and quick recovery. Testosterone - whether it's injected, applied via a patch or cream, or taken orally - allows athletes to rapidly increase muscle mass beyond their usual capacity, and also reduces their recovery time which allows them to train continuously with little need to rest their bodies in between workouts. Physiologically, erythrocytosis is defined by an erythrocyte mass that exceeds 125% of that predicted for sex and body mass. Much of the concern with the use of testosterone involves increase in blood viscosity, resulting from increased red blood cell mass causing a potential increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), myocardial infarction (MI), and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). We report a case of secondary polycythemia related to testosterone therapy.

Resistance training and androgenic anabolic steroids on aged skeletal muscles: a review about methodological approaches

One of the most frequent effects of aging is the involuntary loss of muscle mass, strength and function, termed sarcopenia. Longitudinal data suggest that muscle strength is a robust predictor of functional decline that occur during aging. Since strength capacity appears to also be indicative of disability, resistance training may serve as an effective mode of physical activity to directly improve functional capacity. There is also a growing evidence to indicate that age-related decline in production and activity of hormones plays an important role in aging muscle. Testosterone deficiency has been associated with a marked decrease in measures of whole body protein anabolism and decrease strength. The purpose of the present study was to explore the characteristics of the methodological approaches used in the studies related to the role of resistance training and androgenic anabolic steroids in the aged skeletal muscle that have been published in the last ten years. A literature review was conducted in April 2011 using the following databases: PubMed; Medline; Lilacs; and Scielo. We found sixty two articles analyzing the influence of resistance training on skeletal muscle of aged samples, seven articles which proposed to verify the chronic influence of androgenic anabolic steroids and only one article mixing both interventions. The great variety of analysis methods is notable. Morphological analysis was done in only few articles.

Effects of administering testosterone undecanoate in rats subjected to physical exercise: effects on the estrous cycle, motor behavior and morphology of the liver and kidney / Efeitos da administração de undecanoato de testosterona em ratos submetidos a exercício físico: efeitos sobre o ciclo estral, o comportamento motor e a morfologia do fígado e do rim

The aim of the work was evaluate the effects of testosterone undecanoate (TU) treatment combined with moderate physical training on: the estrous cycle, body weight (BW), motor behavior (MB), and the morphohistology of the reproductive system, the liver and kidney in rats. Female Wistar rats (180 g - 250 g) were divided as follows: sedentary + TU (S + TU), trained + TU (T + TU), sedentary + vehicle (S + V), trained + vehicle (T + V). The rats swam 50 min/Day, strapped with a 5 percent BW load, for 4 weeks. During this training, (BW) was monitored daily as well as the estrous cycle (EC) by vaginal smear. The TU (15 mg/kg s.c) was administered 3 times/week for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, data on MB, BW and morphohistopathological changes in viscera were compiled. The (T + TU) group had on average, a higher (BW) in the fourth week compared to the first week, and (BW) higher than (S + V) and (S + TU) groups. We noted an interruption in the EC and a decrease in weight of ovaries in animals treated with TU. In addition, there was an increase in the relative weight of the heart in groups (T + V) and (T+ TU), and kidneys in group (T + TU). Histopathological analysis showed periportal congestion and isolated foci of hepatic necrosis in rats with TU. Thus, TU combined with training abolished the EC, promoted ovarian atrophy, liver necrosis, cardiac hypertrophy and a decrease in motor activity.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do tratamento com undecanoato de testosterona (UT) combinado ao treinamento físico moderado sobre ciclo estral, peso corporal, estruturas do sistema reprodutor, comportamento motor e morfologia hepática e renal em ratas. Ratas Wistar (180 a 250 g) foram divididas em: sedentárias + UT (S+UT), treinadas + UT (T+UT), sedentárias + veículo (S+V), treinadas + veículo (T+V). As ratas nadaram 50 min/dia com sobrecarga de ~5 por cento do peso corporal por 4 semanas. Durante o período de treinamento foi realizado acompanhamento diário do peso corporal (PC) e do ciclo estral (CE) pelo esfregaço vaginal. O UT (15 mg/kg s.c.) foi administrado 3x/semana durante 4 semanas. Ao final foram avaliados comportamento motor, pesos e alterações histopatológicas de alguns órgãos. O grupo T+UT apresentou PC maior na quarta semana do que na primeira, com pesos corporais maiores que os grupos S+V e S+UT. Houve interrupção no CE e redução do peso dos ovários nos animais tratados com UT. Houve aumento do peso relativo do coração, nos grupos T+V e T+UT, e do peso relativo dos rins, no grupo T+UT. A análise histopatológica revelou congestão periportal e focos isolados de necrose hepática nas ratas com UT. O UT combinado com treinamento produziu supressão do ciclo estral, atrofia ovariana, necrose hepática, hipertrofia cardíaca e redução da atividade motora.

Efeitos dos hormônios anabólicos sobre a estrutura, metabolismo e função do músculo esquelético: [revisão] / Effects of anabolic hormones on structural, metabolic and functional aspects of skeletal muscle: [review]

Este estudo revisou evidências acerca dos efeitos do uso de hormônios anabólicos nos ganhos de força e hipertrofia muscular, abordando os aspectos estruturais, metabólicos e funcionais pelos quais estes hormônios podem potencializar o ganho de força. Atenção especial foi dada ao efeito da dosagem. Foram selecionados estudos por critério de relevância, publicados nos últimos 15 anos, acessados pela base Pubmed. A administração de testosterona (TE) em doses elevadas (~600 mg/semana) potencializa os efeitos do treinamento de força (TF), promovendo aumento na massa muscular magra, na área de secção transversa das fibras do tipo IIA e IIB, e no número de mionúcleos. Interconversão entre as isoformas da MHC não são evidentes. A interação entre administração de TE e TF também parece modificar algumas vias metabólicas, elevando a síntese protéica, os estoques musculares deATP-CP e glicogênio, com maior mobilização de gordura. Modificações nas concentrações de 17β-Estradiol, ou nas relações ACTH-Cortisol e insulina-glucagon, parecem estar envolvidas nestas alterações metabólicas. Com relação ao desempenho físico, a administração de TE pode aumentar os ganhos em força entre 5% e 20%, com variações dependentes da dosagem. De outro lado, a ação do hormônio de crescimento (GH) sobre os aspectos estruturais e funcionais é pouco evidente, e seus efeitos recaem mais sobre os aspectos metabólicos. Estudos com maior controle experimental são necessários para a determinação mais ampla dos efeitos dos hormônios anabólicos sobre aspectos estruturais, metabólicosou funcionais, em humanos.

This study reviewed information regarding the effects of anabolic hormones on strength gain and muscle hypertrophy, emphasizing the physiological mechanisms that may increase muscle strength. Structural, metabolic and functional aspects were analyzed and special attention waspaid to the dose-response relationship. The Pubmed database was searched and studies were selected according to relevance and date of publication (last 15 years). The administration of high testosterone doses (~600 mg/week) potentiates the effects of strength training, increasing leanbody mass, muscle fiber type IIA and IIB cross-sectional area, and the number of myonuclei. There is no evidence of conversion between MHC isoforms. The interaction between testosterone administration and strength training seems to modify some metabolic pathways, increasingprotein synthesis, glycogen and ATP-CP muscle stores and improving fat mobilization. Changes in 17β-estradiol concentration or in the ACTH-cortisol and insulin-glucagon ratios seem to be associated with these metabolic alterations. Regarding performance, testosterone administration may improve muscle strength by 5-20% depending on the dose used. On the other hand, the effects of growth hormone on the structural and functional aspects of skeletal muscle are not evident, with this hormone more affecting metabolic aspects. However, strictly controlled human studies are necessary to establish the extent of the effects of anabolic hormones on structural, metabolic and functional aspects.