Development and Reproduction (한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식)

The Korean Society of Developmental Biology (한국발생생물학회)
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Androgen in the Uterus: A Compensator of Estrogen and Progesterone

  • Cheon, Yong-Pil (School of Biosciences and Chemistry, Center for NanoBio Applied Technology, Institute for Basic Sciences, Sungshin Women's University) ;
  • Lee, Dong-Mok (School of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Chun, Tea-Hoon (School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University) ;
  • Lee, Ki-Ho (Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eulji University School of Medicine) ;
  • Choi, In-Ho (School of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University)
  • Published : 2009.09.30
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Abstract

Pivotal roles of steroid hormones in uterine endometrial function are well established from the mouse models carrying the null mutation of their receptors. Literally androgen belongs to male but interestingly it also detected in female. The fluctuations of androgen levels are observed during reproductive cycle and pregnancy, and the functional androgen receptor is expressed in reproductive organs including uterus. Using high throughput methodology, the downstream genes of androgen have been isolated and revealed correlations between other steroid hormones. In androgen-deficient mice, uterine responses to exogenous gonadotropins are impaired and the number of pups per litter is reduced dramatically. As expected androgen has important role in decidual differentiation through AR. It regulates specific gene network during those cellular responses. Recently we examined the effects of steroid hormonal complex containing high level of androgen. Interestingly, on the contrary to the androgen-alone administration, the hormonal complex did not disturb the decidual reaction and the pubs did not show any morphological abnormality. It is suspected that the complexity of communication between other steroid hormone and their receptors are the reasons. In summary, androgen exists in female blood and it suggests the importance of androgen in female reproduction. However, the complex interactions with other hormones are not fully understood compared with estrogen and progesterone. The further studies to evaluate the possible role of androgen are needed and important to provide the in vivo rational for the prevention of associated pregnancy complications and help human's health.

Keywords

References

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