Today's article is about the hormone erythropoietin and its use in sports. The content of the article:
- The hormone erythropoietin
- Action of erythropoietin
- Erythropoietin in sports
- Side effects
The hormone erythropoietin
Erythropoietin is a glycopeptide hormone whose main task is to control the formation of red blood cells synthesized in bone marrow stem cells. The body synthesis process depends on oxygen supply, and the hormone itself is produced in the kidneys.
Erythropoietin molecules are composed of amino acid compounds. Four sections of protein chains have glycosidic fragments attached to them. Since these fragments are different sugars, there are several types of erythropoietin. They all have the same bioactivity, and the differences lie in their physicochemical properties.
A synthetic hormone produced by genetic engineering methods is now being produced. It coincides with the natural hormone in the composition of amino acid compounds, however, it has slight differences in the composition of glucose elements. It is these differences that determine the acid-base properties of all molecules of a substance.
Erythropoietin is an active substance that has a significant effect on the body even in picomolar concentrations. For this reason, when using the drug, the instructions for use should be carefully studied. Even small fluctuations in the level of the substance can lead to serious changes in the rate of erythropoiesis.
Action of erythropoietin
For a long time, the issue associated with cells that produce erythropoietin has been studied. The reason for this was the lack of a direct method for determining the cells responsible for the synthesis of the hormone.
All work on their identification was carried out only by indirect methods, including the possibility of producing erythropoietin by various tissues. The issue was resolved only after the cloning of the gene, when it was discovered that kidney tissue is responsible for the synthesis of the hormone.
It was already mentioned above that the rate of erythropoietin synthesis depends on hypoxia. With a lack of oxygen, the level of the substance in the blood increases by about a thousand times. Numerous experiments with kidney isolation have shown that this organ contains sensors that respond to fluctuations in oxygen concentration.
Thus, scientists were able to establish that the hormone, as well as currently produced analogues of erythropoietin, have a regulatory function in the production of red blood cells. When the body receives sufficient oxygen supply, the synthesis of the substance is reduced. This feature was the reason for the use of the drug in sports. Erythropoietin is included in the list of prohibited drugs.
Erythropoietin accelerates the conversion of reticulocytes into full-fledged erythrocytes. Due to the increase in the content of erythrocytes in the blood, the amount of oxygen contained in the blood increases, which significantly improves tissue nutrition, and as a result, the overall endurance of the body. A similar effect can be achieved with training in mid-altitude areas.
Since the hormone is synthesized in kidney tissue, people with chronic kidney failure are prone to anemia. Until the artificial substance and analogues of erythropoietin were synthesized, such patients constantly needed blood transfusion not only of whole blood, but also of erythrocyte mass. Now, for such treatment, a synthesized hormone is used.
Also, quite often, other types of anemia are treated with the same drugs. Instead of transfusing a mass of red blood cells, the use of high dosages of the drug has proven to be very effective in treating a number of other diseases. For example, chronic polyarthritis, some types of tumors, as well as with large blood loss.
Erythropoietin in sports
As mentioned above, erythropoietin is also used in sports. Athletes use the property of the drug to affect the oxygen content in the blood and, therefore, improve tissue nutrition.
Erythropoietin is primarily used in sports where aerobic endurance is important. These include middle and long distance running in athletics, cycling and cross-country skiing.
In 1990, erythropoietin was classified as doping and banned from use by athletes. Since the drug is prohibited in sports, the IOC is making great efforts to combat its use. However, it is currently difficult to detect erythropoietin in the blood. The main reason for this is the great similarity between natural and artificial hormones. Anti-doping laboratories use various methods to find a drug in the blood of athletes.
The main method is associated with the electrophoretic separation of natural and synthesized erythropoietin. Thanks to this, differences in the glycosidic elements of the hormone can be detected. However, this is a rather laborious and costly method for detecting a substance.
Some sports federations are on their own looking for opportunities to detect the substance. Of course, first of all, these include those sports where the use of the hormone is especially effective.
For example, the cyclists' union has introduced restrictions on the maximum allowable hemoglobin level. Most often, control is carried out before the start of the competition, and if the hemoglobin level is exceeded, athletes are suspended from the competition. First of all, this is done in order to preserve the health of the cyclists themselves.
However, this is a very subjective indicator, which largely depends on the characteristics of the organism. Since it is not possible to accurately establish the average level of hemoglobin, its increase is not evidence of the use of erythropoietin.
Side effects of erythropoietin
For the reason that the artificially created hormone practically does not differ from the natural one, then it has no side effects.
An exception is an overdose of the drug. If you do not follow the recommendations contained in the instructions for use, and use erythropoietin uncontrollably, this can increase the viscosity of the blood, which, in turn, will cause disturbances in the blood supply to the brain and heart. It is especially dangerous to use the drug in large quantities during training sessions in the midlands.
Video about the use of erythropoietin in sports:
