Durh, me stupid lifterwieghts :Excess testosterone causes neuron death?

**jubei33** · Posted On: 9/27/2006 7:12pm

In this article in the journal of biological chemistry, Large prolonged concentrations of testosterone marked neuronal cells for apoptosis. Here is the abstract:

http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abstr...urcetype=HWCIT

Elevated Testosterone Induces Apoptosis in Neuronal Cells*
Manuel Estrada12, Anurag Varshney1, and Barbara E. Ehrlich3
From the Departments of Pharmacology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520

Testosterone plays a crucial role in neuronal function, but elevated concentrations can have deleterious effects. Here we show that supraphysiological levels of testosterone (micromolar range) initiate the apoptotic cascade. We used three criteria, annexin V labeling, caspase activity, and DNA fragmentation, to determine that apoptotic pathways were activated by testosterone. Micromolar, but not nanomolar, testosterone concentrations increased the response in all three assays of apoptosis. In addition, testosterone induced different concentration-dependent Ca2+ signaling patterns: at low concentrations of testosterone (100 nM), Ca2+ oscillations were produced, whereas high concentrations (1-10 µM) induced a sustained Ca2+ increase. Elevated testosterone concentrations increase cell death, and this effect was abolished in the presence of either inhibitors of caspases or the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R)-mediated Ca2+ release. Knockdown of InsP3R type 1 with specific small interfering RNA also abolished the testosterone-induced cell death and the prolonged Ca2+ signals. In contrast, knockdown of InsP3R type 3 modified neither the apoptotic response nor the Ca2+ signals. These results support our hypothesis that elevated testosterone alters InsP3R type 1-mediated intracellular Ca2+ signaling and that the prolonged Ca2+ signals lead to apoptotic cell death. These effects of testosterone on neurons will have long term effects on brain function.

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I wonder how much of an increase is seen in the average steriod user? If the dangers of steroids are overemphasized, what do you think about this, Equipose?

**RedGonzo** · Posted On: 9/27/2006 7:26pm

Them words were smart ones. I think some, then tell later.

**Ze German** · Posted On: 9/27/2006 7:33pm

Damn! No more testos for me then. Well there's still good ol' oxymetholone.

**Seraphim** · Posted On: 9/27/2006 10:13pm

jkl;'?

**TehDeadlyDimMak** · Posted On: 9/27/2006 10:21pm

So... women are smarter?

**RedGonzo** · Posted On: 9/27/2006 10:33pm

Me thunk some, now say yeah. me think yeah now.

**jubei33** · Posted On: 9/27/2006 11:20pm

Originally Posted by TehDeadlyDimMak

So... women are smarter?

well, a news article she was interviewed in did make it a point to ask her about the same effect with estrogen, to which she replied that there was no visible effect. At any rate, the only people who really worry about their sex being smarter are too involved in groupthink to have opinions that matter anyway...