It was discovered a relatively long time ago (the 1930s) that injections of
progesterone were effective as a contraceptive in preventing pregnancies. The
pill is an oral contraceptive containing synthetic derivatives of the female sex
hormones, progesterone and oestrogen. These synthetic hormones prevent
ovulation and thus prevent pregnancy. The two most important birth-control
pills are norethindrone and ethynyloestradiol. Many synthetic steroids have
been found to be much more potent than natural steroids. For example, the
contraceptive drug, norethindrone is better than progesterone in arresting
(terminating) ovulation.
O
OH
OH
Norethindrone
A synthetic progestin
Ethynyloestradiol
A synthetic oestrogen
Steroids that aid in muscle development are called anabolic steroids. They
are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, thus have the same muscle-building
effect as testosterone. There are more than 100 different anabolic steroids
which, vary in structure, duration of action, relative effects and toxicities.
Androstenedione, stanozolol and dianabol are anabolic steroids. They are
used to treat people suffering from traumas accompanied by muscle deterioration. The use of anabolic steroid can lead to a number of dangerous sideeffects, including lowered levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol,
which benefits the heart, and elevated levels of harmful low density lipoprotein, stimulation of prostate tumours, clotting disorders and liver problems.
OH
O
N
N
O
OH
O
O
Stanozolol
Dianabol
Methandrostenolone
Androstenedione
6.6.7 Functions
The most important function of steroids in most living systems is as
hormones. Steroid hormones produce their physiological effects by binding
to steroid hormone receptor proteins. The binding of steroids to their
receptors causes changes in gene transcription and cell function. From
biological and physiological viewpoints, probably the most important steroids are cholesterol, the steroid hormones, and their precursors and metabolites. Cholesterol, a common component of animal cell membranes, is an
important steroid alcohol. Cholesterol is formed in brain tissue, nerve tissue
and blood stream. It is the major compound found in gallstones and bile salts.
6.6 STEROIDS
357
progesterone were effective as a contraceptive in preventing pregnancies. The
pill is an oral contraceptive containing synthetic derivatives of the female sex
hormones, progesterone and oestrogen. These synthetic hormones prevent
ovulation and thus prevent pregnancy. The two most important birth-control
pills are norethindrone and ethynyloestradiol. Many synthetic steroids have
been found to be much more potent than natural steroids. For example, the
contraceptive drug, norethindrone is better than progesterone in arresting
(terminating) ovulation.
O
OH
OH
Norethindrone
A synthetic progestin
Ethynyloestradiol
A synthetic oestrogen
Steroids that aid in muscle development are called anabolic steroids. They
are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, thus have the same muscle-building
effect as testosterone. There are more than 100 different anabolic steroids
which, vary in structure, duration of action, relative effects and toxicities.
Androstenedione, stanozolol and dianabol are anabolic steroids. They are
used to treat people suffering from traumas accompanied by muscle deterioration. The use of anabolic steroid can lead to a number of dangerous sideeffects, including lowered levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol,
which benefits the heart, and elevated levels of harmful low density lipoprotein, stimulation of prostate tumours, clotting disorders and liver problems.
OH
O
N
N
O
OH
O
O
Stanozolol
Dianabol
Methandrostenolone
Androstenedione
6.6.7 Functions
The most important function of steroids in most living systems is as
hormones. Steroid hormones produce their physiological effects by binding
to steroid hormone receptor proteins. The binding of steroids to their
receptors causes changes in gene transcription and cell function. From
biological and physiological viewpoints, probably the most important steroids are cholesterol, the steroid hormones, and their precursors and metabolites. Cholesterol, a common component of animal cell membranes, is an
important steroid alcohol. Cholesterol is formed in brain tissue, nerve tissue
and blood stream. It is the major compound found in gallstones and bile salts.
6.6 STEROIDS
357