The roles of steroidogenic factor 1 in endocrine development and function.
The nuclear hormone receptor family--structurally-related transcriptional regulators that mediate the actions of steroid hormones, thyroid hormone, vitamin D, and retinoids--also includes orphan members that lack known activating ligands. One of these orphan receptors, steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), has recently been shown to play key roles in steroidogenic cell function within the adrenal cortex and gonads. SF-1 also contributes to reproductive function at all three levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Key insights into these roles came from analyses of SF-1 knockout mice, which revealed adrenal and gonadal agenesis with consequent male-to-female sex reversal of their internal and external genitalia, impaired gonadotrope function, and agenesis of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. This report reviews the data that have established SF-1 as a critical mediator of endocrine differentiation and function.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235, USA.
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D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology*; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D006066:Gonads / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014697:Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C515058:steroidogenic factor 1, mouse