Estrogen-Related Aggression
I have been reading the newer version of the Yesalis book Anabolic Steriods in Sport and Exercise (2000). Fucking awesome book - a little better than the Taylor book IMO...
But anyway... check this out from page 254-255 (Bahrke):
"Although testosterone has been linked with aggression for many years, particularly in males, recent research indicates that estrogen, and not testosterone, may be partly responsible for increased aggression. Since testosterone, through the enzme aromatase, can be converted in the brain to estrogen, higher levels of estrogen can act directly on brain cells.
"In a study to assess the effects of sex steroids on aggressive behavior, Finkelstein and colleagues (1997) administered either depot-testosterone to hypogonadal boys or estrogen to girls at three physiological doses using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-month, crossover design. Responses to placebo were compared with responses to hormones at specific doses. At the low dose, scores for aggressive impulses and physical aggression against peers significantly increased only for girls. At middose, the scores for girls significantly increased for aggressive impulses, physical aggression against peers, and physical aggression against adults. The scores for boys significantly increased for physical aggression against adults. At the high dose, physical aggression against peers significantly increased only for boys. These results suggest that sex steroids affect aggressive behavior in adolecents. Girls showed larger and earlier increases than boys, suggesting that estrogen has a significant role in change in aggression scores during puberty and that testosterone may exert its effect via concersion to estrogen."
Can anyone say - PMS :dg:
In all seriousness, according to this - anti estrogens used during cycle could have an effect in lowering steroid induced aggression by limiting estrogen build up in the brain. Wether thats a desired effect or not... it's an interesting new development...