BIOLOGY BASICS: HOW TESTOSTERONE WORKS

Mar 27, 2022

Testosterone! The king of masculinity. Without it, you are destined for a life of obesity, low energy, and wimpy girlie arms (if you like wimpy girlie arms, this article is not for you). Without further ado (I like classic clichés), lets jump into it (I can’t help myself).

WHAT IS TESTOSTERONE?

Testosterone is a sex hormone and an anabolic steroid. As I’ve mentioned before, hormones are
chemical messengers in the body. Testosterone is responsible for the maintenance and regulation of the reproductive system. It controls the process by which the body makes sperm, and develops secondary sex characteristics (bone mass, muscle mass, body hair, thickening of the vocal cords, penis, and prostate development, etc.). It also helps maintain youthful energy levels, and faster recovery. Men and women both have testosterone, however men make more (well most men).

WHAT MAKES YOUR BODY RELEASE TESTOSTERONE?

Your body’s testosterone production is based upon several feedback loops. What’s a feedback loop you ask? A hormonal feedback loop is your body’s way of controlling the release of hormones from
the different endocrine organs in your body (pituitary gland, testes, ovaries, etc.). It works like a water damn. If there is too much water downstream, the damn operators stop the flow of water. If there is too little water downstream, the damn operators open the flow of water.

THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-GONADAL (HPG) AXIS

The HPG Axis is your body’s testosterone feedback loop. When your brain senses that you need more testosterone downstream, the hypothalamus releases Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) into the blood stream. Your pituitary gland then receives the GnRH, and releases Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). LH then travels to the Leydig cells, located in the testes, and tells them to produce testosterone. FSH travels to the Sertoli cells and tells them to start the process of making sperm. Most natural testosterone boosters contain ingredients that make your body produce more LH and FSH, such as N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid and Tribulus Terrestris. Now you know how they work! If you want a potent natural test booster, I recommend ALPHA PCT (click here).

HOW IS TESTOSTERONE MADE?

The Leydig cells make testosterone from cholesterol. Cholesterol binds with the enzyme Cytochrome P450 and is converted into pregnenolone. Pregnenolone is then converted into androstenedione, progestogens, estrogens, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, DHEA, Testosterone, and other androgens. It should also be noted that DHEA can also be
converted into testosterone. However, most of your DHEA is made by the Adrenal Glands.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Once testosterone is released into the blood stream, most of it binds with Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) or Albumin. Albumin-Bound testosterone has a weaker bond than SHBG-Bound testosterone. However, both are unusable by the body. The small percentage that doesn’t get bound is called Free Testosterone.

TESTOSTERONE AND MUSCLE GROWTH

Free testosterone is the only testosterone that can be used by our bodies. Free testosterone then
binds with the targeted Androgen Receptor (AR), located on the outside of the cell. The Free testosterone then enters the cell and binds with the Androgen Receptor Protein (ARP). The ARP then enters the nucleus of the cell and activates specific genes. If it is a muscle cell, then the nucleus signals the beginning of protein synthesis. Protein synthesis is the process of turning
amino acids into new muscle tissue.

If you have been able to keep up so far, you may now see the connection between DHEA and Testosterone. Now you know why several companies have started making DHEA products. In fact, Chaos and Pain makes Chemical One (1-DHEA) and Chemical Four (4-DHEA). Testosterone binds with the Androgen Receptors (ARs) on muscle cells. For more info on Chemical One and Chemical Four, ClickHere Now.

WRAPPING IT ALL UP

So, as you can see, the process by which your body makes
testosterone is complex (to say the least). However, now you know how and why some of the best natural testosterone boosters and DHEA products work. The bottom line (like I said before, I like classic clichés) is that testosterone is the king of big muscles, ripped abs, and being manly!

Top Related Articles