Endocrine Abstracts

It has been suggested that DHEA metabolites, especially 7-hydroxy and/or 7-keto derivatives could possess anti-inflammatory activity and enhance immune, cognitive and metabolic functions in rodents. It is thus important to elucidate the exact pathway (s) leading to the formation of these metabolites. While the role of cytochrome P450 CYP7B1 in the transformation of DHEA into 7α-OHDHEA is well recognized, the role of type 1 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-H...

Introduction: While the androgens of testicular origin (representing about 50% of total androgens in men over 50 years) can be completely eliminated by surgical or medical castration with GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) agonists or antagonists, the antiandrogens currently available as blockers of androgen binding to the androgen receptor (AR), namely bicalutamide (BICA), flutamide (FLU) and nilutamide have too weak affinity to completely neutralize the 50% of androgens m...

The secondary sexual characteristics such as a neck mane and antlers seen in the male red deer are unusual in that they are produced on an annual basis and are linked to the breeding season. This cycle is highly controlled and the development of these characteristics coincides with changes in plasma levels of testosterone and IGF-1. We have previously shown that the expression of the androgen receptor in the hair follicle cells of the neck mane are only present during the bree...

Introduction: The efficacy and exceptionally good tolerance of estrogen blockade in the treatment of breast cancer is well recognized. Acolbifene (ACOL) is a novel and unique completely free of estrogen-like activity in both the mammary gland and uterus. In theory, this new antiestrogen represents a unique opportunity for a highly potent and specific blockade of estrogen action in the mammary gland and uterus while exerting estrogen-like beneficial effects in other tissues (se...

Continuous administration of 400 μg/day of letrozole (LET), a non-steroidal inhibitor of P450 aromatase, with start pre-pubertally to female rats, induces hyperandrogenemia and reproductive abnormalities similar to those observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, these rats do not develop metabolic abnormalities, despite high circulating testosterone. A possible explanation may be that the dose was too high and thus completely inhibited the estrogen...