Nuclear receptor action involved with sex differentiation
I. A. Hughes, H. Martin, J. J��skel�inen, and C. L. Acerini
Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge,
Addenbrooke s Hospital, Box 116, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK
Abstract: Sex determination and differentiation in the male
is an orderly sequence of events coordinated by genetic and hormonal
factors operating in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The
constitutive sex in mammals is female. Disorders of fetal sex development
have provided the means to identify testis-determining genes and the
molecular mechanisms of hormone action. Thus, the androgen receptor,
a nuclear hormone receptor critical for androgen-induced male sex differentiation,
displays unique intra-receptor and protein-protein interactions which,
when disturbed, can result in extreme forms of sex reversal. Polymorphic
variants are associated with milder disorders of sex development. Against
this genetic background, endocrine active substances may further contribute
to the underlying causes of an increase in male reproductive tract disorders.
*Report from a SCOPE/IUPAC project: Implication of
Endocrine Active Substances for Human and Wildlife (J. Miyamoto and
J.Burger, editors). Other reports are published in this issue,
pp. 1617-2615.
Page last modified 29 January 2004.
Copyright © 2004 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
Questions or comments about IUPAC, please contact, the Secretariat.
Questions regarding the website, please contact web
manager.