Denna kvalitativa studie handlar om några behandlares upplevelser och erfarenheter kring vilka personer som hamnar i missbruk av anabola androgena steroider(AAS). Den belyser även vilken behanding som finns för problematiken. För att erhålla empiri används semistrukturerade intervjuer på fyra personer som arbetar med behandling av AAS. Resultatet visar att man kan kategorisera AAS-användare i tre olika grupper. När klienter kommer till behandling är det viktigt att man ser till helhetsbilden och att man ser varje individ för sig. Metoder som finns är terapi för det sjuka kroppsidealet, hjälp med träningsmissbruket, läkemedelsassisterad behandling samt annan psykosocial terapi. En intressant slutsats är att det finns hjälp att få vid AAS-missbruk, men tyvärr finns det inte resurser att hjälpa alla. Det finns fortfarande mycket kvar att lära inom ämnet och man behöver forska kring fler och bättre behandlingsmetoder som kan passa vid detta missbruk.

Syftet med föreliggande uppsats är att undersöka hur patienter och behandlare ser på vad som leder till ett bruk alternativt missbruk av anabola androgena steroider, AAS. Uppsatsen har en kvalitativ, fenomenografisk ansats. Ostrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med fem patienter och tre behandlare vid Beroendecentrum i Örebro. Materialet analyserades med hjälp av tematisk analys. Sju teman utkristalliserade sig som resultat; Samhälle, Uppväxt, Socialt umgänge, Psykologiska sårbarheter, Attityder, Kroppsbild och Övrigt. Det omfattande resultatet kan anses visa på en komplexitet i förklaringen till vad som leder till att en individ börjar bruka eller missbruka AAS. / This study aims to examine how patients and clinicians look at what leads to the use or abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids, AAS. The study uses a qualitative phenomenographic method. The research data was collected with unstructured interviews with five patients and three clinicians at Beroendecentrum in Örebro. The research data was analyzed through the use of a thematic analysis. The results were the seven themes that emerged; Society, Childhood, Social relations, Psychological vulnerabilities, Attitudes, Body image and Other. The extensive results can be looked upon as showing the complexity in the explanation of what leads to an individuals use or abuse of AAS.

<p>This is a study about gym training young men (age 18-20) and their attitude against anabolic androgenic steroids, AAS. In our study we examine if the muscular ideal in our society have any effect on young men and the young men’s attitude against their body and their training. We want to find out what attitude gym training young men have against AAS, and also what has had the influence to this attitude.</p><p>         The study contains six qualitative performed interviews with young men who are training at the gym, which are based on relevant information about their training habits, nutritional supplement, influence, the muscular ideal, the gym culture and medias effect on young men when it comes to body ideals.  </p><p>         The young men’s attitudes is connected and compared to prior research about gym-training young men and what affects them to have a certain attitude against AAS, body and training. In our study we also use a theory by Giddens about social interaction and the late modern society we live in. </p><p>         The conclusions of the result and analysis is that young men who trains at the gym for the purpose of getting bigger and in relation to the training takes nutritional supplements, have a more liberal attitude against AAS compared to those young men who doesn’t. Media, friends, equals at the gym and the gym culture are all factors that affect young men in their positive attitude in opposition to AAS.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-01-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:29:45Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 carmo_ca_me_botib.pdf: 354246 bytes, checksum: 4c9e96974ccabd93669458a1fdf56b19 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Os anabolizantes esteróides têm sido amplamente utilizados por profissionais e atletas de elite para melhorar sua aparência e habilidades atléticas. Além disso, eles apresentam um importante papel quimioterapêutico no tratamento de vários tipos de distúrbios metabólicos, homeostáticos e sexuais, em ambos os sexos. Tendo em vista que muitas drogas esteróides têm apresentado diferentes resultados considerando efeitos genotóxicos e mutagênicos, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o potencial genotóxico do hormônio nandrolona (deca-durabolin®) in vivo em células da medula óssea e do sangue periférico de camundongos, usando o teste do micronúcleo e o ensaio do cometa, respectivamente. Os animas receberam injeção intradérmica de 3 concentrações do hormônio esteróide (1.0, 2.5 e 5.0 mg/kg peso corporal). As células foram coletadas 24 h após o tratamento hormonal para o teste do micronúcleo (avaliação da clastogenicidade) e o teste do cometa (avaliação da genotoxicidade). O teste do micronúcleo evidenciou que as duas maiores doses testadas da nandrolona induziram aumentos estatisticamente significativos de células micronucleadas e o teste do cometa não evidenciou aumento significativo de danos no DNA nos linfócitos do sangue periférico. Sob estas condições experimentais, conclui-se que o hormônio esteróide nandrolona apresentou efeito clastogênico e/ou aneugênico e, por outro lado, não foram observados efeitos genotóxicos quando o mesmo foi administrado intradermicamente em camundongos / Anabolic androgenic steroids have been widely used by professional and elite athletes to improve their appearance and athletic abilities. Besides, they have an important place in the chemotherapeutic treatment of various types of metabolic, homeostatic, and sexual disorders in both sexes. Since many steroidal drugs have been found to be different results considering genotoxic and mutagenic effects, the aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of nandrolone (deca-durabolin®) in vivo in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells of mice, using micronucleus and comet assays, respectively. The animals received intradermal injection of the 3 concentrations of the steroid (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg body weight). The cells were collected 24 h after the hormone-treatment for the micronucleus (clastogenicity endpoint) and comet assays (genotoxicity endpoint). Micronucleus test showed that the two higher tested-doses of the nandrolone induced statistically significant increase of the micronucleated cells and comet assay no evidenced significant increase in the DNA damage of the lymphocytes from peripheral blood. Under our experimental conditions, the nandrolone steroid hormone showed clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects and, on the other hand, no genotoxic effects when administered intradermally to mice

<p>Aromatase is an enzyme that facilitates the conversion of androgens to estrogens and may play a role in mood and mental status. The main theme of this thesis is the imaging of brain aromatase by use of the PET technique. The PET tracer for aromatase, ¹¹C-labeled vorozole (VOZ) was developed and evaluated by with <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> methods. <i>In vitro</i> experiments using rat brain showed that VOZ was distributed in the medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic area, regions of the brain known to be rich in aromatase and the K_D value was determined to be 0.60 nM. The <i>in vivo</i> PET study in rhesus monkey brain revealed that VOZ penetrated the blood-brain barrier and accumulated in the amygdala and hypothalamus. Taken together, VOZ is a good PET tracer for <i>in vivo</i> aromatase imaging with high affinity and high sensitivity.</p><p>This technique was applied to an investigation of brain aromatase under the physiological conditions simulating anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse. A significant increase in VOZ binding by anabolic-androgenic steroids was observed in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis and medial preoptic area in the rat brain. In contrast, no significant change in binding was observed in the medial amygdala. These results indicate that the manner of regulation of aromatase expression might be different in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis and medial preoptic area compared with that in the medial amygdala. The aromatase expression was suggested to be regulated through androgen receptors, as indicated in a study with flutamide treatment. The increased aromatase expression was seen in neurons. The PET study with anabolic steroid-treated rhesus monkeys also showed increased VOZ binding in the hypothalamus but not in the amygdala. The alteration of density of aromatase binding in the hypothalamic area could explain some psychological features of anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers.</p><p>Novel PET tracers for aromatase were developed and examined. The two newly synthesized ¹⁸F-labeled vorozole analogs, [¹⁸F]FVOZ and [¹⁸F]FVOO, displayed different characteristics. Both tracers showed similar binding pattern as VOZ; however, [¹⁸F]FVOO was metabolized very quickly, meaning that this tracer is not suitable as a PET tracer. On the other hand, [¹⁸F]FVOZ can be an appropriate PET tracer.</p><p>The role of aromatase in the human brain has not been clarified yet. To approach this problem by<i> in vivo</i> methods, we have just started PET studies to explore aromatase expression in humans.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T14:17:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lana_Branai.pdf: 2297634 bytes, checksum: 8dbbaa1b059e5e38dcdd38ba4a303557 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-04 / Nowadays, the search for beauty, has caused health problems associated with the use of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) and even strenuous exercise, and the male reproductive system is the subject of studies to be sensitive to changes in the concentration of this type of hormone; these changes may also occur with increasing age, causing changes in androgen-dependent organs, like the epididymis. This study aimed to verify if treatment with AAS associated or not to exercise, in Sprague-Dawley rats alters the morphology of the epididymis in adult rats and its chronic effects in the elderly. The training was conducted by jumping into the water, weighing overloading, being considered as resistance exercise in water. The AAS administration occurred by intramuscular injection of nandrolone decanoate (10 mg / kg / week). Epididymal samples were subjected by histological routine of hematoxylin and eosin for morphological and morphometric analysis. It was analyze all parts of the epididymis (initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda) of 56 Sprague-Dawley rats, virgins, with 13 weeks old, divided into eight groups with seven animals each: GC - adults and sedentary; GCi - elderly and sedentary; GN - adults, sedentary treated with AAS; GNi - elderly, sedentary treated with AAS; GE - adults treated with exercise; GEi - elderly treated with exercise; GNE - adults, exercise and treatment with AAS; GNEi - elderly, exercise and treatment with AAS. The results show significant changes in duct diameters; the GE was lower when compared to other groups, and the groups that were used anabolic steroids, had a larger diameter than the other, and these changes occurred mainly in the initial segments. The epithelial height in the initial segment was also considered higher in the groups that administered AAS. The elderly groups tend to return to normal, increasing the parameters of epithelial height and diameter when these were decreased, and lowering them when they were enlarged when compared with the related adult group (with common variable), except at the tail of GNEi. As the results of this study, we can conclude that both treatment in adulthood, with exercise and the use of AAS, changes morphometric and morphological parameters of the epididymis, and its chronic effects can be diminished with age. / Atualmente, a procura pela beleza estética, tem causado problemas de saúde associados ao uso de esteroides androgênicos anabolizantes (EAAs) e até mesmo a exercícios físicos intensos. O sistema genital masculino é alvo de estudos por ser sensível a mudanças na concentração desse tipo de hormônio; essas alterações também podem ocorrer com o aumento da idade, influenciando órgãos androgênio-dependentes, como o epidídimo. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se com esse estudo, verificar se o tratamento com EAAs associado ou não ao exercício físico resistido, em ratos Sprague-Dawley, altera a morfologia do Epidídimo em ratos adultos e seus efeitos a longo prazo em idosos. Foram analisadas todas as porções dos epidídimos (segmento inicial, cabeça, corpo e cauda) de 56 ratos, virgens, da linhagem Sprague-Dawley (com 13 semanas de vida ao iniciarem o experimento), separados em oito grupos com sete animais cada: GC - adultos e sedentários; GCi - idosos e sedentários; GN - adultos, sedentários, tratados com EAA; GNi - idosos, sedentários, tratados com EAA; GE - adultos tratados com exercício; GEi - idosos tratados com exercício; GNE - adultos, exercício e tratamento com EAA; GNEi - idosos, exercício e tratamento com EAA. O treinamento realizado foi exercício resistido em meio aquático (através de saltos na água, com sobrecarga) com duração de oito semanas (três vezes na semana). A administração de EAAs ocorreu pela aplicação intramuscular de Decanoato de Nandrolona (10 mg/kg/semana) também durante oito semanas (duas vezes na semana). Amostras epididimárias passaram pela rotina histológica de hematoxilina e eosina para análise morfológica e morfométrica. Os resultados mostraram alterações significativas nos diâmetros de ductos, sendo que o GE foi menor quando comparado ao controle, e, nos grupos em que foram utilizados anabolizantes, tiveram diâmetro aumentado significativamente, e essas alterações ocorreram principalmente nos segmentos mais iniciais. A altura epitelial, no segmento inicial, também foi maior nos grupos em que foi utilizado anabolizante. Os grupos idosos tenderam a retornar a normalidade, aumentando os parâmetros de altura e diâmetro quando esses estavam diminuídos, e diminuindo-os quando estavam aumentados em comparação ao grupo adulto relacionado (com variável em comum), a não ser na cauda, do GNEi, em que houve aumento significativo. Achados morfológicos indicaram presença de debris celulares em lúmen (GN e GNEi) e infiltrados intersticiais (GN, GNE, GE e GCi). Conforme os resultados desse estudo, pôde-se concluir que tanto o tratamento na fase adulta com exercício, quanto à utilização de EAAs altera parâmetros morfométricos e morfológicos do epidídimo, e que seu efeito crônico pode ser diminuído com a idade.

<p>A new group of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) users has developed during the last two decades. This group consists primarily of young men interested in improving their physical appearance. Within this group, AAS are sometimes used together with other illicit drugs, alcohol and nicotine. Brutal and violent crimes have been committed under the influence of AAS, possibly because of AAS psychiatric side effects, ranging from increased aggression and psychosis to depression. Unfortunately, the biochemical mechanisms behind these effects are poorly understood.</p><p>In this thesis we used an animal model to study biochemical and behavioural effects of chronic AAS treatment (15 mg/kg/day of nandrolone decanoate for 14 days). The effect on the endogenous opioid peptides and the expression of immediate-early gene protein Fos in various brain regions were studied using radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In addition, we studied AAS effect on voluntary alcohol consumption and defensive behaviours, including aggression. The results show that AAS enhance endogenous opioid activity and Fos expression in brain regions regulating reward, aggression and disinhibitory behaviours. An imbalance between two opioid systems with generally opposing effects, the enkephalins with euphoric and the dynorphins with dysphoric effects, was also found. This implies that AAS alter the ability to maintain a stable state of mind and the response to other drugs of abuse. The AAS pre-treated animals enhanced their alcohol intake, were more aggressive and showed lower fleeing and freezing reaction than the controls. In addition, AAS enhanced amphetamine-induced aggression when the amphetamine was given three weeks after the last AAS injection.</p><p>The behavioural and biochemical results found in this thesis, support the hypothesis that use of AAS might lead to the development of dependence and may induce changes in the brain leading to disinhibitory behaviours.</p>

<p>The neurosteroids constitute a group of powerful hormones synthesized and acting in the central nervous system. They participate in a number of important central processes, such as memory and learning, mood and neuroprotection. Their effects emerge from rapid interactions with membrane bound receptors, such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, the gamma-amino-butyric acid receptor and the sigma 1 receptor. The mechanisms of action are separate from classical genomic interactions. </p><p>The aims of this thesis were to identify and characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of nanomolar concentrations of neurosteroids at the NMDA receptor. </p><p>The results show that the neurosteroids pregnenolone sulfate (PS) and pregnanolone sulfate 3α5βS) differently modulate the NMDA receptor, changing the kinetics for the NMDA receptor antagonist ifenprodil, through unique and separate targets at the NR2B subunit. The effects that appear to be temperature independent were further confirmed in a calcium imagining functional assay. A second functional study demonstrated that PS and 3α5βS affect glutamate-stimulated neurite outgrowth in NG108-15 cells. </p><p>Misuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has powerful effects on emotional states. Since neurosteroids regulate processes involved in mood it can be hypothesised that AAS can interact with the action of neurosteroids in the brain. However, chronic administration of the AAS nandrolone decanoate did not alter the allosteric effects of PS or 3α5βS at the NMDA receptor, but changed the affinity for PS, 3α5βS and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to the sigma 1 receptor. The results also showed that the neurosteroids displace ³H-ifenprodil from the sigma 1 and 2 receptors without directly sharing the binding site for ³H-ifenprodil at the sigma 1 receptor. The decreased affinity for the neurosteroids at the sigma 1 receptor may be involved in the depressive symptoms associated with AAS misuse.</p><p>The NMDA receptor system is deeply involved in neurodegeneration and the NMDA receptor antagonist ifenprodil exert neuroprotective actions. The findings that neurosteroids interact with ifenprodil at the NMDA receptor may be an opportunity to obtain synergistic effects in neuroprotective treatment.</p>

A new group of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) users has developed during the last two decades. This group consists primarily of young men interested in improving their physical appearance. Within this group, AAS are sometimes used together with other illicit drugs, alcohol and nicotine. Brutal and violent crimes have been committed under the influence of AAS, possibly because of AAS psychiatric side effects, ranging from increased aggression and psychosis to depression. Unfortunately, the biochemical mechanisms behind these effects are poorly understood. In this thesis we used an animal model to study biochemical and behavioural effects of chronic AAS treatment (15 mg/kg/day of nandrolone decanoate for 14 days). The effect on the endogenous opioid peptides and the expression of immediate-early gene protein Fos in various brain regions were studied using radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In addition, we studied AAS effect on voluntary alcohol consumption and defensive behaviours, including aggression. The results show that AAS enhance endogenous opioid activity and Fos expression in brain regions regulating reward, aggression and disinhibitory behaviours. An imbalance between two opioid systems with generally opposing effects, the enkephalins with euphoric and the dynorphins with dysphoric effects, was also found. This implies that AAS alter the ability to maintain a stable state of mind and the response to other drugs of abuse. The AAS pre-treated animals enhanced their alcohol intake, were more aggressive and showed lower fleeing and freezing reaction than the controls. In addition, AAS enhanced amphetamine-induced aggression when the amphetamine was given three weeks after the last AAS injection. The behavioural and biochemical results found in this thesis, support the hypothesis that use of AAS might lead to the development of dependence and may induce changes in the brain leading to disinhibitory behaviours.

The neurosteroids constitute a group of powerful hormones synthesized and acting in the central nervous system. They participate in a number of important central processes, such as memory and learning, mood and neuroprotection. Their effects emerge from rapid interactions with membrane bound receptors, such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, the gamma-amino-butyric acid receptor and the sigma 1 receptor. The mechanisms of action are separate from classical genomic interactions. The aims of this thesis were to identify and characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of nanomolar concentrations of neurosteroids at the NMDA receptor. The results show that the neurosteroids pregnenolone sulfate (PS) and pregnanolone sulfate 3α5βS) differently modulate the NMDA receptor, changing the kinetics for the NMDA receptor antagonist ifenprodil, through unique and separate targets at the NR2B subunit. The effects that appear to be temperature independent were further confirmed in a calcium imagining functional assay. A second functional study demonstrated that PS and 3α5βS affect glutamate-stimulated neurite outgrowth in NG108-15 cells. Misuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has powerful effects on emotional states. Since neurosteroids regulate processes involved in mood it can be hypothesised that AAS can interact with the action of neurosteroids in the brain. However, chronic administration of the AAS nandrolone decanoate did not alter the allosteric effects of PS or 3α5βS at the NMDA receptor, but changed the affinity for PS, 3α5βS and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to the sigma 1 receptor. The results also showed that the neurosteroids displace 3H-ifenprodil from the sigma 1 and 2 receptors without directly sharing the binding site for 3H-ifenprodil at the sigma 1 receptor. The decreased affinity for the neurosteroids at the sigma 1 receptor may be involved in the depressive symptoms associated with AAS misuse. The NMDA receptor system is deeply involved in neurodegeneration and the NMDA receptor antagonist ifenprodil exert neuroprotective actions. The findings that neurosteroids interact with ifenprodil at the NMDA receptor may be an opportunity to obtain synergistic effects in neuroprotective treatment.