Endocrine Abstracts

Global knockout models of the androgen receptor (ARKO) illustrates the many roles androgens and their receptor have in the development of male reproductive organs and the gender differences in many features like the musculoskeletal system. However, neither the global ARKO nor orchidectomy models discriminate between direct and indirect effects of androgens. To determine direct and indirect effects of androgens on muscle, we developed a muscle-specific ARKO (called satARKO for ...

The importance of the androgen receptor (AR) in the development and maintenance of the male phenotype is demonstrated by patients with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). These patients carry germline mutations in the AR and display a mild to complete intersex phenotype. The AR belongs to the subfamily of steroid receptors, which need to form homodimers to execute their role as transcription factors. For estrogen receptors, dimerization via the DNA-binding domains as well a...

Background: Sex steroids are critical for skeletal development and maturation during puberty as well as skeletal maintenance during adult life. However, the exact time during puberty when sex steroids have the highest impact as well as the ability of bone to recover from transient sex steroid deficiency is unclear. The latter is highly relevant in the clinical context of delayed puberty, since the impact of a delayed pubertal onset on adult bone health remains elusive. Surgica...