Sex steroid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sex steroids, also known as gonadal steroids, are steroid hormones that interact with vertebrate androgen or estrogen receptors. The term sex hormone nearly always is synonymous with sex steroid.

Contents 1 Production 2 Functions 3 Synthetic sex steroids 4 Types 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Production

Natural sex steroids are made by the gonads (ovaries or testes), by adrenal glands, or by conversion from other sex steroids in other tissues such as liver or fat.

[edit] Functions

Sex steroids play important roles in inducing the body changes known as primary sex characteristics and secondary sex characteristics.

The development of both primary and secondary sexual characteristics is controlled by sex hormones after the initial fetal stage where the presence or absence of the Y-chromosome and/or the SRY gene determine development.

[edit] Synthetic sex steroids

There are also many synthetic sex steroids. Synthetic androgens are often referred to as anabolic steroids. Synthetic estrogens and progestins are used in methods of hormonal contraception. Ethinylestradiol is a semi-synthetic estrogen.

[edit] Types

In many contexts, the two main classes of sex steroids are androgens and estrogens, of which the most important human derivatives are testosterone and estradiol, respectively. Other contexts will include progestagen as a third class of sex steroids, distinct from androgens and estrogens. Progesterone is the most important and only naturally-occurring human progestagen.

Sex steroids include:

• androgens:
  • testosterone
  • androstenedione
  • dihydrotestosterone
  • dehydroepiandrosterone
  • anabolic steroids

• estrogens:
  • estradiol
  • estrone

• progestagens:
  • progesterone
  • progestins

[edit] See also

• Klinefelter's syndrome
• Androgen insensitivity syndrome
• Sex-hormone therapy

[edit] External links

• MeSH Sex+Steroid+Hormones
• Sex+hormones at eMedicine Dictionary

v • d • e Sex hormones and related agents (primarily G03, also L02, H01C) - human endogenous in CAPS
Progestogens: (receptor)	PROGESTERONE, Desogestrel, Drospirenone, Dydrogesterone, Ethisterone, Etonogestrel, Ethynodiol diacetate, Gestodene, Gestonorone, Levonorgestrel, Lynestrenol, Medroxyprogesterone, Megestrol, Norelgestromin, Norethisterone, Norethynodrel, Norgestimate, Norgestrel, Norgestrienone, Tibolone Selective progesterone receptor modulator: Asoprisnil, CDB-4124 Antiprogestogen: Mifepristone
Androgens: (receptor)	TESTOSTERONE, Androstanolone, Fluoxymesterone, Mesterolone, Methyltestosterone, (see also anabolic steroids) Antiandrogens: Bicalutamide, Cyproterone, Flutamide, Nilutamide, Spironolactone
Estrogens: (receptor)	ESTRADIOL, ESTRIOL, ESTRONE, Chlorotrianisene, Dienestrol, Diethylstilbestrol, Ethinylestradiol, Fosfestrol, Mestranol, Polyestradiol phosphate Selective estrogen receptor modulator: Bazedoxifene, Clomifene, Fulvestrant, Lasofoxifene, Raloxifene, Tamoxifen, Toremifene Aromatase inhibitor: Aminogluthetimide, Anastrozole, Exemestane, Formestane, Letrozole, Vorozole
Gonadotropins: (FSHR/LHCGR)	ovulation stim.: Clomifene, Urofollitropin Antigonadotropins: Danazol, Gestrinone
GnRH: (receptor)	agonist: Buserelin, Goserelin, Histrelin, Leuprorelin, Nafarelin, Triptorelin antagonist: Abarelix, Cetrorelix, Ganirelix

de:Sexualhormon

fr:Stéroïde sexuel lt:Lytiniai hormonai nl:Geslachtshormoon ja:性ホルモン pt:Esteróide sexual sv:Könshormon