Steroids and Hormones Flashcards
What is a hormone?
- A substance that is released from one type of cell and exerts its’ influence on another type of cell
- Releasable into the blood stream
What must a hormone do to be considered a hormone?
travel some distance to the target site (is a messenger)
What hormone(s) does the hypothalamus release?
gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnFR) hormone
What hormone(s) does the pituitary gland release?
- follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
- lutenizing hormone (LH)
What do the ovaries release?
estrogen and progesterone
What does HPG (axis) stand for?
hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis
In which order do the phases of the menstrual cycle occr?
Follicular, Ovulation, Luteal, Menstruation
How long is the menstrual cycle?
monthly cycle around 28 days
What happens to hormones during the follicular phase?
estrogen levels peak
What happens to hormones during the ovulation phase?
estrogen decreases
What happens to hormones during the luteal phase?
high progesterone
What happens to hormones during menstruation?
estrogen and progesterone low
What does taking birth control (contraceptives) do to the menstrual cycle?
changes hormonal fluctuations
What were oral contraceptives from the 60s like?
- Excessive amounts of estrogen (100-150mg) and progestin
What is progestin?
synthetic progesterone
What happened in the 90s with oral contraceptives?
- the optimal balance was acheived (30-35 mg)
What is the optimal amount of estrogen in an oral contraceptive?
30-35 mg
How do oral contraceptives work?
- fixed combos of estrogen and progesterone
- blocks release of FSH and LH
- no ovulation
What is in oral contraceptives to block the release of FSH?
estrogen
What is in oral contraceptives to block the release of LH?
progesterone
What is in multiphasic oral contraceptives?
constanct amount of estrogen with variable amounts of progesterone
What is unique about multiphasic birth control?
reduces total hormone content
What is one of the most commonly prescribed prescription pills?
birth control
What percent of high school students report using birth control pills at most recent intercourse?
around 20% (slightly more women than men)
What is contraception?
act of preventing pregnancy
Other types of contraception
Mini pills
- constant p amount
- thickens cervix mucus
Other types of contraception
Seasonale
- estrogen and progesterone
- taken consistently for 3 months followed by one week of inactive pills
Other types of contraception
Lybrel
- Estrogen and Progesterone
- low dose combo pill
- taken 365 days a year
What types of contraception are slow-release, long-lasting combo of synthetic hormones?
- injections
- birth control patch
- vaginal ring
- Intrauterine device
What are depo-provera and lunell?
contraceptive injections
What are ortho evera and xulane?
birth control patch
What kind of contraceptive are injections, birth control patch, vaginal ring, and intraceptive device?
slow-release, long lasting combo of hormones (synthetic)
When is it Plan B taken?
immediatley after unprotected sex
over the counter!
What is in plan b, and what does that do?
- high dose progestin
- prevents ovulation, fertilization, or implantation
Plan B will terminate an existing pregnancy T/F
- False
- but could be harmful to fetus
What is Mifepritone (RU-486)?
morning after pill
What is Mifepristone (RU-486) (compound)?
progesteron antagonist
When is Mifepristone best used?
- best used before fertilized egg attaches to uterus
- can also detach trophoblastic tissue up to 49 days after fetilization
Up to how many days can mifeprstone detach trophoblastic tissue?
49 days after fertilization
What is normally given with Mifepristone? Why?
- prostaglandin
- helps with contractions
What are the side effects with taking low doses of contraceptives?
- Resemble those of early pregnancy
- nausea
- headaches/dizziness
- breast discomfort
- weight gain
- depression and mood swings
What are the side effects of taking high dose contraceptives?
- cardiovascular risks
- cancer risks
- diabetes
- adverse effects on fetus
What is the caveat with depression/mood swings as a side effect of low dose contraceptives?
mood swings associated with natural cycles can be improved by oral contraceptive use
What are steroids?
group of compounds related to the “male” sex hormone testosterone
What are the medical uses of steroids?
delayed puberty, burn, or wasting victims
Why are steroids misused?
they enhance athletic performance and increase muscle mass
What happened in the 1960s regarding steroids?
steroid use was rampant and semi-accepted in the sports world
What happened in the 1970s regarding steroids?
50-90% of football players were on steroids
What happened in the 1980s regarding steroids?
olympic testing for steroids
What happened in the 90s regarding steroids?
anabolic steroid act: made steroids a schedule 3 drug
What happened in the 2000s regarding steroids?
- BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative), biggest doping scandal in sports history
- likely in most sports, but MLB brought it to the public eye
Also lance armstrong (cyclist) caught doping
How are steroids administered?
- oral, absorbed in intestine
- intramuscular injection
How are steroids distibuted?
- rapidly distributed in the blood
- stored in fat
How are steroids metabolized?
rapidly in the liver
metabolism
What are steroids most active metabolite?
androstenedione (precursor to testosterone)
also metabolize to estrogen
What excretes steroids? How long are they detectable for?
- kidney excretes steroids
- detectable 4-14 days or up to 1 year
What parts of the body experience side effects from steroids?
- Liver
- Cardiovascular system
- reproductive systems
Side effects
What do steroids do to the liver?
tumors and hepatitis from shared needle use
What are the side effects of steroids on the cardiovascular system?
increased low density cholesterol… leads to high BP, heart attack, stroke
What are the side effects of steroids on the female reproductive system?
loss of period and breast reduction
What are the side effects of steroids on the male reproductive system?
testicular shrinkage, reduced sperm count, breast growth
What are steroids mechanism of action?
- Once in the blood it passes through cell walls and attaches to the steroid (androgen) receptor inside cells
- Has genomic actions, alters the expressions of particular genes
How long does it take to experience the psychological effects of steroids?
delayed onset of action, days-weeks
How do steroids affect mood?
euphoria, irritability, aggression, depression (withdrawal from chronic use)
Other than mood changes, what are the psychological effects of steroids?
- sleep problems
- loss of appetite
- reduced sexual desire
- some evidence of tolerance; psychological reinforcement may be culprit
How do hormones affect mood?
- can enhance mood
- too little=depression
- too much=anxiety/aggitation
How do hormones affect cognition?
hormones may enhance some cognition (working memory, spatial) and impair other forms of learning
What are hormones and steroids that have effects on the brain?
- neurohormones
- neurosteroids
What can neurohormones/neurosteroids do?
- modulate/alter the function of various receptors as PAMs
- includes: GABA, Glutamate, Acetylcholine, and serotonin
