title: Multiple actions of steroids and their antagonists.
abstract: Our scientific language is often misleading. We speak, for example, of virilizing progestins when we should be speaking of "dihydrotestosterone-like" progestins because genital virilization is normally brought about by DHT. We speak of the anti-libidinal properties of antiandrogens as though we knew that their mechanism of action was through the blockage of androgen receptors; some of these agents are antiestrogenic and progestational as well. Until we know the mechanism of action of androgens, estrogens, antiandrogens, antiestrogens, aromatase inhibitors, and reductase inhibitors we should be cautious in our terminology. All hormones and their antagonists have multiple effects.
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D000733:Androstatrienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000736:Androstenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D003534:Cyproterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D000733:Androstatrienes; D000736:Androstenes; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; C011658:androsta-1,4,6-triene-3,17-dione; C004251:etienic acid; D013739:Testosterone; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D003534:Cyproterone