title: [Intracrinology and dehydroepiandrosterone--a new perspective for the use of androgens in hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women].
abstract: During menopausal transition not only ovarian production of estrogens but also marked decrease of adrenal androgen production are observed Decreased secretion of adrenal DHEA and DHEA-S result in reduction of peripheral conversion of these steroids into active estrogens and androgens. Intracrinology describes the biosynthesis of active steroids in peripheral target tissues in which the action of theses steroids takes place, without release into the extracellular space or general circulation. DHEA administration to postmenopausal women significantly increases bone mineral density decreases insulin resistance and amount of fat tissue and exerts an estrogenic effect on vaginal cytology in the absence of endometrial stimulation. Moreover animal experiments proved that DHEA suppresses the growth of breast cancer which is yet another reason to consider this steroid as a part of hormone replacement therapy in women.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Ginekologii UM w Lublinie, Polska.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perzyło
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kulik-Rechberger
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gałczyński
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rechberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone