Anabolic androgenic steroids and intracellular calcium signaling: a mini review on mechanisms and physiological...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cell Biology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Testosterone and anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) exhibit both genomic and nongenomic effects.
• Nongenomic effects are rapid, mediated by membrane receptors, while genomic effects are slower, involving nuclear receptors and gene transcription.
• Intracellular calcium (Ca2+) increases have been observed in response to AAS across various cell types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of intracellular Ca2+ as a mediator between nongenomic and genomic signaling pathways of AAS.
• To elucidate how Ca2+ acts as a central regulator bridging distinct AAS response mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing studies demonstrating Ca2+ mediated responses to AAS in diverse cell types (osteoblasts, platelets, muscle, cardiac, neurons).
• Analysis of testosterone's specific effects on Ca2+ oscillations and release in cardiac cells and neurons.
• Examination of Ca2+ as a second messenger in pathophysiological implications.

Main Results:

• AAS induce increases in intracellular Ca2+ in multiple cell types.
• Testosterone modulates Ca2+ signaling in cardiac cells, promoting hypertrophy via MAPK and mTOR pathways.
• Testosterone affects neuronal Ca2+ levels, influencing synaptic plasticity or apoptosis depending on concentration.

Conclusions:

• Intracellular Ca2+ serves as a critical point of crosstalk between nongenomic and genomic AAS signaling.
• Ca2+ acts as a central regulator, integrating previously considered separate AAS response pathways.
• Understanding Ca2+ mediation is key to comprehending the diverse pathophysiological roles of androgens.