Liver

Estrogen Receptor alpha

The estrogen receptor that dominates breast tissue, liver and the pituitary feedback loop. Gynecomastia and much of the negative feedback on LH run through it.

Glucagon Receptor

Glucagon's receptor. Agonising it raises energy expenditure and burns liver fat, which is why the triple agonists add it. It also raises blood glucose, which is the tension every dual and triple agonist has to balance.

Growth Hormone Receptor

Where growth hormone itself acts. Binding pairs the receptor and fires JAK2/STAT5, which in the liver means IGF-1 output and in fat means lipolysis. Injected GH works here; secretagogues work one step upstream.

HGF Receptor

Hepatocyte growth factor's receptor. In the brain it drives new synapse formation, which is the mechanism claimed for dihexa.

Liver Tumour

Benign or malignant liver growths reported after prolonged high-dose oral steroid use. Rare, serious, and tied to years rather than weeks.

Peliosis Hepatis

Blood-filled cavities in liver tissue. Rare, associated with long-term 17-alpha-alkylated use, and can bleed without warning.

Apolipoprotein B

Counts the actual number of artery-clogging particles rather than the cholesterol inside them. A better read on risk than LDL-C when the two disagree.

Bile Flow

Bile moving out of the liver and into the gut. The 17-alpha-alkyl group that lets an oral survive first pass is also what slows this, and the stall is what is felt as itching and jaundice.

HDL Cholesterol

The protective lipid fraction. Oral 17-alpha-alkylated steroids can cut it by half or more within weeks, and it is the fastest-moving marker of cardiovascular cost.

LDL Cholesterol

The fraction that deposits into vessel walls. Rises on most androgens and sharply on orals.

Thyroid-Binding Globulin

The carrier protein for thyroid hormone. When it falls, TOTAL T4 and T3 read low while the free, active hormone is unchanged, so the thyroid looks broken on paper when it is not.

Triglycerides

Circulating fat. Moves with diet and insulin sensitivity as much as with any compound, which is why it needs reading alongside the rest of the panel.