The role of androgens in prostate cancer is obvious due to the fact that androgen signalling is the main regulator of prostate growth and function. Androgen deprivation therapy is a mainstay treatment for advanced prostate cancer. However, prostate cancer often becomes androgen-independent, which in consequence leads to lethal and incurable disease. In addition, oestrogens play a crucial role i...

Oestrogenic steroid hormones (‘oestrogens’) have a crucial role in cellular regulation in all vertebrate species. The levels required to bring about such changes are very low, around 0.1–1 pg/ml (picograms per millilitre) of serum. It has been known for over five decades that oestrogens affect the development of the male reproductive system of mammals (Zuckerman, 1940). Nonetheless, oestrogenic...

The role of oestrogens in male reproductive tract physiology has for a long time been a subject of debate. The testis produces significant amounts of oestrogenic hormones, via aromatase, and oestrogen receptors (ERs)alpha (ESR1) and ERbeta (ESR2) are selectively expressed in cells of the testis as well as the epididymal epithelium, depending upon species. This review summarizes the current know...

The effect of oestrogen-containing compounds on platelet factor 3, platelet life span, renal platelet localization and the fibrinolytic activity of forearm venous blood has been studied in eleven women with the renal vascular abnormalities of the loin pain and haematuria syndrome. The results were compared with those obtained in twenty-nine healthy female volunteer subjects. 2. Platelet factor ...