I wasn’t sure where to post this, but I was wondering if you guys knew of any good textbooks out there on steroid biochemistry. It’s something I would like to know a lot more about (not just anabolic steroids, but how other steroidal compounds in the body work, etc.). I’m a senior biochemistry student so I can read something that is considered “technical” and delves into the biochemistry/molecular biology.
Thanks!
You could shoot Bill Roberts a PM if he isn’t too busy (hope he won’t mind me putting his name forward). Detroitlionsbaby or Bushidobadboy might also be able to help you.
Actually it is much easier to get to me by posting, because the PM box is very swamped.
The classic book is by CD Kochakian, probably called Anabolic and Androgenic Agents, but definitely is the 43rd volume of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology.
It is quite old but nothing in it is incorrect so far as I know.
Other than that, I don’t know of what I’d call a biochemistry textbook that deals only with steroids.
For a general biochemistry text, Lehninger’s is a very good one.
Start here:
When considering endocrine disruptors, note that the steroid can have multiple and unwanted effects on gene expression. A major example is progestins in birth control pills and female HRT that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. We know that progestins are dangerous and progesterone is not. We have no idea what secondary effects designer steroids have on gene expression other than the expected anabolic responses. So where are the examples? I have see a few young guys play with a deca cycle, cause that is all the bro had, and totally damaged there HPTAs. Some could not get fixed by endo’s using hCG, SERMs and PCT methods. These are the extremes. I have seen similar problems with finasteride for hair loss. Two guys used nothing but that with no anabolic steroid exposure. Finasteride is a steroid.
Look at the molecular structure.and:
While these 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors do interfere with 5-alpha reductase enzymes, what other changes do these molecules cause to gene expression in the nucleus?
An interesting further point is that there is nowhere near enough research on effects of what are called orphan receptors.
For example, we know that estrogen-related-receptor gamma can, if activated much, be bad news but try finding how much research there is in say, antagonists to this receptor. I think there is only one study identifying one compound (tamoxifen.)
And there are many more such orphan receptors which bind some steroids and also substances that happen to fit binding sites optimized for some steroids.
But with regard to various pharmaceutical steroids, do we have information on their binding to each, or even generally ANY, of these orphan receptors? No.
While this may seem exceedinly off topic, I think it may be related to what KSman has pointed out above with regard to problems seen with synthetic progestins vs progesterone itself. And for all I know might have something to do with problems with Deca (though I suspect that binding to neurosteroid receptors may have something to with it as well. Again, an area that hasn’t been studied nearly enough.)