The overall goals of this project are to assess the behavioral effects of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and to understand the underlying mechanisms for these changes. An intact male rat model will be employed in order to provide empirical data on the behavioral and neuroanatomical consequences of AAS abuse. Three different classes of AAS are typically abused: testosterone esters, 19-nortestosterone esters, and 17-alpha-alkylated androgens. AAS users typically 'stack' these drugs (i.e., use several together). However, since little is known in rats about the behavioral effects of AAS other than testosterone, we propose to test the of one AAS from each category individually. The testosterone ester will be testosterone propionate (TP), the 19-nortetsosterone ester will be nandrolone (ND) and the 17-alpha-alkylated androgen will be stanozolol (ST). All are commonly abused AAS. The first two aims will investigate two frequently reported behavioral disturbances in human users: aggression and circadian rhythms.
The first aim will determine the role of contextual cues in stimulating aggression during exposure to TP, ND or ST and whether these same cues are effective during withdrawal from AAS.
The second aim will test the effects of AAS on circadian rhythms by measuring wheel running activity in 12:12 LD, phase reversal and constant dark during AAS exposure and during AAS withdrawal. Because AAS abuse is on the rise in adolescent males, the experiments proposed in the third aim will assess the effects of AAS on circadian rhythms, aggression, and reproductive function in peripubertal male rats. We will also examine whether the behavioral effects of AAS exposure during this critical period of development are reversible or permanent. To assess whether the ability of these AAS to bind to androgen receptors is related to their behavioral effects, the fourth aim will assess the binding characteristics of TP, ND and ST on androgen receptors in brain. The fifth aim will follow up our novel finding that chronic AAS exposure results in a loss of detectable cells in specific brain nuclei. We will determine if the loss of detect ability in cells of TP-treated males occurs in neurons or glia, and if the affected cells contain androgen receptors. Double label immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy will be used in conjunction with volume/size analyses to investigate the cellular characteristics of affected cells. These studies will aid in understanding the effects of AAS abuse on behavior in bot adults and juveniles, and will delineate possible mechanisms underlying AAS effects on brain.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA010886-02
Application #
2837887
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Pilotte, Nancy S
Project Start
1998-02-20
Project End
2000-11-30
Budget Start
1999-01-01
Budget End
1999-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
114400633
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10029
Cunningham, Rebecca L; Lumia, Augustus R; McGinnis, Marilyn Y (2013) Androgenic anabolic steroid exposure during adolescence: ramifications for brain development and behavior. Horm Behav 64:350-6
Frahm, Krystle A; Lumia, Augustus R; Fernandez, Elizabeth et al. (2011) Effects of anabolic androgenic steroids and social subjugation on behavior and neurochemistry in male rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 97:416-22
Kubala, Kenneth H; McGinnis, Marilyn Y; Anderson, George M et al. (2008) The effects of an anabolic androgenic steroid and low serotonin on social and non-social behaviors in male rats. Brain Res 1232:21-9
Cunningham, R L; McGinnis, M Y (2008) Prepubertal social subjugation and anabolic androgenic steroid-induced aggression in male rats. J Neuroendocrinol 20:997-1005
McGinnis, Marilyn Y; Lumia, Augustus R; Tetel, Marc J et al. (2007) Effects of anabolic androgenic steroids on the development and expression of running wheel activity and circadian rhythms in male rats. Physiol Behav 92:1010-8
Cunningham, R L; Claiborne, B J; McGinnis, M Y (2007) Pubertal exposure to anabolic androgenic steroids increases spine densities on neurons in the limbic system of male rats. Neuroscience 150:609-15
Keleta, Yonas B; Lumia, Augustus R; Anderson, George M et al. (2007) Behavioral effects of pubertal anabolic androgenic steroid exposure in male rats with low serotonin. Brain Res 1132:129-38
Cunningham, Rebecca L; McGinnis, Marilyn Y (2007) Factors influencing aggression toward females by male rats exposed to anabolic androgenic steroids during puberty. Horm Behav 51:135-41
Wesson, Daniel W; McGinnis, Marilyn Y (2006) Stacking anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) during puberty in rats: a neuroendocrine and behavioral assessment. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 83:410-9
Cunningham, Rebecca L; McGinnis, Marilyn Y (2006) Physical provocation of pubertal anabolic androgenic steroid exposed male rats elicits aggression towards females. Horm Behav 50:410-6

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