Collagen Synthesis

Tendon Rupture

A tendon tearing under load it should have handled. The classic pattern is a fast strength gain on a dry compound with connective tissue that has not caught up.

Androgen Receptor

The receptor every anabolic-androgenic steroid is designed to hit. Binding moves it into the nucleus where it switches on genes for muscle protein synthesis, and in other tissues for hair loss, prostate growth and oil production.

Cartilage

Joint surface tissue with almost no blood supply, which is why it repairs so slowly and why it is targeted separately from tendon.

Gene Transcription

Genes being read into protein. The androgen receptor is a transcription factor, so this is the actual first step after binding: everything else downstream is a consequence of which genes get switched on and in which tissue.

Joint Comfort

How joints feel under load. Improved by fluid and collagen support, worsened by compounds that dry tissue out.

Skin

The largest organ, and the target for the melanocortin and copper peptides. Pigment, collagen and wound repair all happen here.

Tendon and Ligament

Connective tissue adapts far slower than muscle. A strength jump that outpaces it is the setup for a tear.