title: Selective modulation of sex steroids.
abstract: Recent evidence suggest that Sex Steroid Therapy involving estrogen while beneficial, may have adverse effects as well. Both of the known estrogen receptors, estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) and estrogen receptor-beta (ER-beta) have been found in reproductive tissues as well as bone, liver, and brain. These receptors are important targets for endogenous estrogen, estrogen replacement therapy and pharmacological estrogen agonists allowing specific modulation of sex steroids. This article will review the basic mechanisms of sex steroid biosynthesis and detail our current understanding of the action of these hormones on specific hormone responsive tissues. The properties of tibolone, a synthetic steroid will be outlined and its mechanism reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Vermont College of Medicine, Given Building C-250, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Jerald S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Cynthia K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Sites
mesh_terms: D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D009652:Norpregnenes; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; C027385:tibolone