NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL ACTIONS OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS

这个项目的长期目标是阐明神经和 合成-雄激素(AAS)的行为作用AAS是 人工合成的雄激素样化合物被大量服用 运动员的目的是改善他们的肌肉外观， 力量和/或运动表现。滥用AAS已成为一个主要问题 这个国家的药物滥用问题。AAS已被证明具有 对肝脏、心血管和内分泌的严重不良影响 系统。众所周知，原子吸收还会产生严重和有害的变化 然而，目前，对情感和行为的系统研究还很少 评估了AAS对中枢神经系统或行为的影响。 尽管已知内源性类固醇激素(例如，睾酮) 规范性行为和攻击行为，缺乏关于 原子吸收光谱的神经内分泌作用。尽管如此，案例报告明确表明 对这种知识的需要，因为生殖功能和 暴力行为的增加与AAS的使用有关。这个 本提案的目的是调查原子吸收光谱分析对 中枢神经系统集中在三个具体问题上。首先，如何 AAS对成年男性性行为和神经内分泌功能的影响 那雌性老鼠呢？第二，AAS对显示的影响是什么 成年雄性大鼠的攻击性？这项研究提案的一个重点是 检测AAS对性行为、神经内分泌功能和 性腺切除动物和性腺完整动物的攻击性。的研究 AAS在去性腺大鼠体内的作用允许测定AAS 在没有性腺分泌物的情况下的行为，而原子吸收光谱分析 对性腺完整的动物的影响更接近于人类 原子吸收光谱和原子吸收光谱之间相互作用的条件和许可评估 内源性激素。拟议研究的第三个目标是 确定神经类固醇受体和AAS作用的大脑区域 大脑使用了几种策略。第一，AAS的竞争能力 有了大脑雄激素，雌激素和皮质类固醇受体将 评估过了。此外，AAS占据细胞核的程度 我们将探索受体。最后，类固醇受体数量的变化 作为慢性AAS的结果，发生在特定的大脑区域 将会被检查。在所有研究中，将特别注意 分析了常见的特定类别的原子吸收光谱的影响 滥用，并将行为和生化反应与 不同的剂量、给药方案和接触这些物质的持续时间 毒品。总而言之，这些实验的结果将导致 更好地了解AAS对人类健康和行为的影响。

The long-term objective of this project is to elucidate the neural and behavioral actions of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). AAS are synthetic androgen-like compounds which are taken in massive quantities by athletes with the intention of enhancing their muscular appearance, strength, and/or athletic performance. Abuse of AAS has become a major substance abuse problem in this country. AAS have been shown to have profound adverse effects on the liver, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. AAS are also known to produce severe and deleterious changes in affect and behavior, however, at the present time, few systematic studies have evaluated AAS effects on the central nervous system or behavior. Although endogenous steroid hormones (e.g., testosterone) are known to regulate sexual behavior and aggression, there is paucity of data on the neuroendocrine effects of AAS. Nonetheless, case reports clearly indicate the need for this knowledge, as alterations in reproductive function and an increase in violent behavior have been associated with AAS use. The goal of the present proposal is to investigate the effects of AAS on the central nervous system focusing on three specific questions. First, how do AAS influence sexual behavior and neuroendocrine function in adult male and female rats? Second, what is the impact of AAS on the display of aggression in adult male rats? A focus of this research proposal is to examine the effects of AAS on sexual behavior, neuroendocrine function and aggression in both gonadectomized and gonadally intact animals. Studies of AAS action in the gonadectomized rat allow for the determination of AAS actions in the absence of gonadal secretions, while analyses of AAS effects in the gonadally intact animal more closely mimic the human condition and permit evaluation of the interactions between AAS and endogenous hormones. The third goal of the proposed research is to determine the neural steroid receptors and brain areas at which AAS act in the brain using several strategies. First, the ability of AAS to compete with brain androgen, estrogen and corticosteroid receptors will be assessed. In addition, the extent to which AAS occupy cell nuclear receptors will be explored. Finally, changes in steroid receptor number which occur within specific brain areas as a consequence of chronic AAS will be examined. In all studies, special attention will be given to analyzing the effects of specific classes of AAS which are commonly abused, and comparing the behavioral and biochemical responses to different doses, dosing regimens, and durations of exposure to these drugs. Taken together, the results from these experiments will lead to a better understanding of the impact of AAS on human health and behavior.