There is increasing concern that certain chemicals in the environment can cause endocrine disruption in exposed humans and wildlife. Investigations of potential effects on endocrine function have been limited mainly to interactions with hormone receptors. A need exists for the development of alternate in vitro methods to evaluate chemicals for their potential to disturb various endocrine functi...

Emerging evidence suggests a neuroprotective role for oestrogens following damage to the vertebrate brain. Aromatase (oestrogen synthase) is rapidly transcribed and translated in glial cells around areas of neural damage in several vertebrates. However, the potential neuroprotection afforded by locally up-regulated glial aromatase immediately surrounding the injury remains to be tested. Towards...

Previous work has shown that androgens inhibit breast cancer cells and tumor growth. On the other hand, androgens can be converted to mitogenic estrogens by aromatase in breast cancer cells. Here, we report that androgens, such as the aromatizable androstenedione and the non-aromatizable 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, inhibit MCF-7 cell proliferation. This effect is observed only in the absence or...

OBJECTIVE Leptin plays an important role in the regulation of reproduction. To explore the contribution of oestradiol to serum leptin levels in men, we measured the concentrations of serum leptin and insulin after inhibition of oestrogen biosynthesis by selective blockade of the aromatase enzyme. DESIGN The study had a double-blind parallel group design. METHODS The aromatase inhibitor, MPV...