Androgens and the control of skeletal muscle protein synthesis

Athletes have long supported the concept that anabolic steroids increase sk eletal muscle mass. However, it was only recently that both testosterone an d its synthetic analogue, oxandrolone, were proven capable of inducing myot rophic effects in postabsorptive human skeletal muscle. These findings have provided the physiological evidence that anabolic steroids deserve attenti on in the clinical arena as a pharmacological intervention against losses i n lean body mass associated with age, disease, trauma and burn injury. Howe ver, we are lacking in vivo molecular evidence that would directly or indir ectly link androgens and the androgen receptor with increases in skeletal m uscle mass. Clearly, a need exists to link in vivo and in vitro studies fro m both the physiological and molecular arena as they relate to androgens an d the control and regulation of skeletal muscle mass. In this brief review, newly discovered information and emerging theories relating to the direct, indirect, priming and antiglucocorticoid action of androgens on skeletal m uscle will be presented.