Testosterone, an anabolic steroid, is the hormone responsible for the building of muscle tissue. Within your muscles, you have hormone receptors for testosterone. These receptors are called androgen receptors. Testosterone interacts with androgen receptors in a several different ways. In one way, testosterone interacts with an androgen receptor regulating the translation of the genetic code. In this instance, a boy turns to a man through the interaction of testosterone with androgen receptors which translate the genetic code; a chemical switch is turned on to bring about the adult male primary and secondary sex characteristics.
Other ways that testosterone interacts with androgen receptors relate to muscle development through biochemical processes. These processes are part of cell metabolism. One process is anabolic, and the other process is catabolic. The anabolic process, otherwise called anabolism, is the process of building muscle. The catabolic process, also known as catabolism, is a biochemical process that breaks down muscle tissue. During body-building, the catabolic process is what happens first. Have you ever exercised until your muscles screamed in pain? That is the catabolic process at work breaking down microscopic muscle fibers. This biochemical process is done with the help of lactic acid; it is when lactic acid is released that you feel that extreme soreness after a strenuous workout.
The next process in the biochemical process is the anabolic process, which is the rebuilding of new muscle cells, which form into muscle tissue. Through anabolism your muscles make repairs, grow bigger and stronger muscle fibers; thus, your muscles grow larger. Through the anabolic process, catabolic processes are stopped and repair and strengthening of the muscle fibers is taking place.
What else does testosterone do? Testosterone, as an anabolic steroid, is able to shift the nitrogen balance within the muscle cells in such a way that the body can use ingested proteins more effectively. To cause a nitrogen shift, you will need to eat a high protein diet. By shifting the nitrogen balance, the steroid receptor complex sends a large amount of protein into the skeletal muscle cells. As a result of this injection of protein into the muscle cells, the muscles double in size after a series of workouts.
The anabolic process is also aided by the glucocorticoid receptor, which helps to regulate genes that control metabolism, development, and immune response. Testosterone competes to connect with glucocorticoid receptors to block the catabolic process from continuing. This process releases glucocorticosteroids which speeds up muscle recovery. This is why you can take a day off from strenuous exercise and your muscles will be recovered sufficiently to work hard out again.
Every now and then we hear of a death related to overdosing on steroids. Death doesn’t occur that often, because the dosage of testosterone has a wide margin for safety. Unfortunately, negative effects creep up over time. When the body- builder hurries the process by overusing steroids, he develops massive muscles in almost no time. The negative effects include acne, mood changes, depression, and even rage.
The safest steroid a body-builder could use is the testosterone transdermal patch. Testosterone is delivered through the skin in a small steady dose over time. The steroids in the testosterone patch do not cycle within the body; therefore, not harmful. When delivered by injection, steroids cycle within the body and cause the negative side effects.
A natural form of testosterone is available in the transdermal patch, called the “T-patch.” This natural testosterone patch has been around since the 1980s. The T-patch is highly effective for body-builders without over-saturating the body with high levels of testosterone. The great thing about the patch is that the body-builder can build muscle, while keeping his testosterone levels will within normal limits. The FDA states that the T-patch is safe, and it will not cause prostate cancer.
I’m in my 40s, and I’m going to have my testosterone levels checked. I don’t want to have huge muscles, but I do want to be well defined. I would like to ask my doctor for the patch to slightly increase my testosterone levels. I hope I can get my doctor to comply, because I want to know if the testosterone patch will actually work to help me further develop my muscles.
