Boldenone (developmental code name RU-18761), is a naturally occurring

anabolic–androgenic steroid Anabolic steroids, also known more properly as anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS), are steroidal androgens that include natural androgens like testosterone as well as synthetic androgens that are structurally related and have similar effects t ...

(AAS) and the 1(2)- dehydrogenated analogue of testosterone. Boldenone itself has never been marketed; as a pharmaceutical drug, it is used as boldenone undecylenate, the

undecylenate Undecylenic acid is an organic compound with the formula CH2=CH(CH2)8CO2H. It is an unsaturated fatty acid. It is a colorless oil. Undecylenic acid is mainly used for the production of Nylon-11 and in the treatment of fungal infections of the ...

ester.

Side effects

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Like other AAS, boldenone is an

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an antagonist blocks the action of the ago ...

of the

androgen receptor The androgen receptor (AR), also known as NR3C4 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 4), is a type of nuclear receptor that is activated by binding any of the androgenic hormones, including testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in th ...

(AR). The activity of boldenone is mainly anabolic, with a low androgenic potency. Boldenone will increase nitrogen retention, protein synthesis, increases appetite and stimulates the release of

erythropoietin Erythropoietin (; EPO), also known as erythropoetin, haematopoietin, or haemopoietin, is a glycoprotein cytokine secreted mainly by the kidneys in response to cellular hypoxia; it stimulates red blood cell production (erythropoiesis) in the bo ...

in the kidneys. Boldenone was synthesized in an attempt to create a long-acting injectable metandienone, for androgen deficiency disorders. Boldenone acts similar to metandienone with fewer adverse androgenic effects. Although commonly compared to nandrolone, boldenone lacks

progesterone receptor The progesterone receptor (PR), also known as NR3C3 or nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 3, is a protein found inside cells. It is activated by the steroid hormone progesterone. In humans, PR is encoded by a single ''PGR'' gene resid ...

interaction and associated

progestogen Progestogens, also sometimes written progestagens or gestagens, are a class of natural or synthetic steroid hormones that bind to and activate the progesterone receptors (PR). Progesterone is the major and most important progestogen in the body. ...

ic side effects.

Chemistry

Boldenone, also known as Δ¹-testosterone, 1-dehydrotestosterone, or androsta-1,4-dien-17β-ol-3-one, is a naturally occurring androstane

steroid A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and a ...

and a derivative of testosterone. It is specifically testosterone with a double bond between the C1 and C2 positions. A related compound is

quinbolone Quinbolone (, ), sold under the brand names Anabolicum and Anabolvis, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) which was previously marketed in Italy. It was developed by Parke-Davis as a viable orally-administered AAS with little or no liver ...

, the 17- cyclopentenyl enol ether of boldenone.

Sources

Boldenone occurs naturally in the scent gland of ''

Ilybius fenestratus ''Ilybius fenestratus'' is a species of beetle found in many countries in Europe. It was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1781. The scent gland of this species of beetle is natural source for the anabolic steroid boldenone Bo ...

'', a species of

aquatic beetle A water beetle is a generalized name for any beetle that is adapted to living in water at any point in its life cycle. Most water beetles can only live in fresh water, with a few marine species that live in the intertidal zone or littoral zone. Th ...

History

Ciba reportedly patented boldenone in 1949. It subsequently developed several experimental esters of the drug in the 1950s and 1960s. One of these was boldenone undecylenate, which was introduced for clinical use under the brand name Parenabol and saw some use in the late 1960s and early 1970s. However, it was discontinued before the end of the 1970s. Subsequently, boldenone undecylenate was introduced by

Squibb Squib or Squibb may refer to: * Squib (explosive), a miniature explosive with a very small charge ** Bullet hit squib, a practical effect simulating a gunshot wound in film and theatre * Squib (''Harry Potter'') * Squib (''Star Wars'') * Squib ( ...

under the brand name Equipose for veterinary use, most commonly in horses.

Society and culture

Generic names

''Boldenone'' is the generic name of the drug and its and .

Brand names

Boldenone is marketed as veterinary drug as boldenone undecylenate (a derivative of boldenone) under the following brand names: ''Boldebal H'', ''Equipoise'', and ''Sybolin''. It is marketed as a veterinary combination drug with

methandriol Methandriol (brand names Anabol, Crestabolic, Cytobolin, Diandren, Durabolic, Madiol, Mestenediol, Methabolic, Methydiol, Sterabolic, Stenediol), also known as methylandrostenediol, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication which was d ...

under the brand name ''Drive''. In Ukraine, it is marketed for human consumption as the injectable steroid ''Boldenol''.

Doping in sports

There are many known cases of doping in sports with boldenone undecylenate by professional

athlete An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-devel ...

References

External links

Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate) - William Llewellyn's Anabolic.org
{{Androgen receptor modulators Secondary alcohols Androgens and anabolic steroids Androstanes Conjugated dienes Drugs in sport Equine medications Enones World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited substances