Lecture 15: Female Sex Hormones Flashcards
What are the types of estrogens?
- naturally occurring steroidal estrogens
Example: Estrone, Estradiol and Estriol (E1, E2 and E2) - naturally occurring nonsteroidal estrogenic compounds
Example: Flavonoids - Synthetic compounds used in manufacture of plastics
Example: bisphenols, alkylphenols, phthalate phenols
What is E1?
Estrone (1 –OH group)
What is E2?
Estradiol (2 –OH groups)
What is E3?
Estriol (3 –OH groups)
What are the main female sex hormones?
- Progesterone
- Estrone (E1)
- 17 beta Estradiol (E2)
- Estriol (E3)
What is the physiological function of estrogens?
- Female maturation
- Endometrial effects
- proliferation of endometrial lining in follicular phase
- endometrial hyperplasia
- Cardiovascular – hematologic effects
- we don’t understand the CV effect of estrogen (can enhance coagulability, increase HDL as well as triglyceride)
- vasodilation
- Metabolic effects
- increases leptin
- increases production of TBG, fibrinogen, transferrin, CBG, SHBG
What is TBG?
Thyroxine binding globulin
What is CBG?
Corticosteroid binding globulin
What is SHBG?
Sex Hormone binding globulin
What is the physiological role of progesterone?
- Produced in non pregnant state by LH stimulated corpus luteum
- pregnant state by placenta
- PRECURSOR of estrogens, androgens and corticosteroid hormones
- Promotes progestational proliferation (secretory phase) of the endometrium and prepares it for implantation
- Renders uterus refractory to oxytocin until onset of labor
Where is Estradiol (E2) made?
Ovary
Where are Estrone (E1) and Estriol (E3) made?
Liver from estradiol
Peripheral tissues from androstenedione
What is the function of aromatase?
Converts Androstenedione to Estrone (E1)
Converts Testosterone to Estradiol (E2)
What do all sex hormones derive from?
Pregnenolone
How is progesterone synthesized?
Cholesterol to pregnenolone to progesterone
Final step is catalyzed by 3beta-HSD