Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1036:399-415.
Anabolic androgenic steroids and aggression: studies using animal models.
McGinnis MY.
Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900 North Loop 1604
West, San Antonio, Texas 78249, USA. mmcginnis@utsa.edu
The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) has escalated in teenagers and is
associated with increased violence. Adolescent exposure to chronic high levels of
AASs is of particular concern because puberty is a hormonally sensitive period
during which neural circuitry for adult male patterns of behavior develop. Thus,
teenage AAS use may have long-term repercussions on the potential for displaying
aggression and violence. Animal models have contributed valuable information on
the effects of AAS use. For example, studies in rodents confirmed that exposure
to the AASs testosterone and nandrolone, but not stanozolol, does indeed increase
aggression. A side effect of AAS use reported in humans is "'roid rage,"
characterized by indiscriminate and unprovoked aggression. Results of animal
studies demonstrated that pubertal rats receiving AASs respond appropriately to
social cues as they are more aggressive toward intact males than are castrates.
Also, testosterone-treated males recognize appropriate environmental cues as they
are most aggressive in their home cage. Thus, adolescent AAS exposure increases
aggressive behaviors, but does not induce indiscriminate aggression. To assess
whether AAS exposure increases aggression after provocation, rats were tested
following a mild tail-pinch. In adolescent males, provocation increased
aggression after withdrawal from testosterone, nandrolone, and stanozolol, an
effect which persisted for many weeks. The data suggest that AASs sensitize
animals to their surroundings and lower the threshold to respond to provocation
with aggression. Thus, in humans, pubertal AAS exposure may not cause violent
behaviors, but may increase the likelihood that aggressive acts will result in
violence. This may persist into adulthood.
