Estrogens and brain function

Athina Markou, Theodora Duka, Gordana M. Prelevic

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Cognitive decline is well recognized during ageing but is often accelerated in women after menopause. Studies have shown that there are significant gender differences in brain ageing with significantly greater changes in brain structure, function and metabolism between females and males. Estrogens exert protective effects on neuronal cells in culture but the exact underlying …

Coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women; the role of endogenous estrogens and their receptors

Katerina Saltiki, Maria Alevizaki

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Coronary heart disease is the main cause of death in women. Women during reproductive years are at lower risk for coronary heart disease than men but this difference tends to disappear after the menopause. In this article, we briefly review the clinical and experimental data which highlight the protective role of endogenous estrogens in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease …

Physiological effects and mechanisms of action of endocrine disrupting chemicals that alter estrogen signaling

Derek V. Henley, Kenneth S. Korach

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A large number of natural and synthetic chemicals have been identified that are reported to disrupt the normal functioning of the endocrine system and produce untoward effects in hormone-responsive target tissues and organs in both humans and animals. These chemicals are broadly referred to as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and consist of numerous physically …

The role of estrogens in cardiovascular disease in the aftermath of clinical trials

Lambrini Gouva, Agathocles Tsatsoulis

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The effects of estrogens on reproductive tissues and climacteric symptoms are unambiguous. However, their effects on other tissues and, in particular, the cardiovascular system remain controversial. In general, premenopausal women are protected from coronary heart disease (CHD) compared with aged-matched men but this `female protection’ appears to be lost after menopause, suggesting beneficial effects of female sex hormones on the cardiovascular system…

Steroid hormones interrelationships in the metabolic syndrome: An introduction to the ponderostat hypothesis

Marià Alemany

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The clairvoyant early implication of sex hormones in the characterization of the metabolic syndrome (MS) was detected early, and in accordance with the well-known sex-related main patterns of fat deposition in obesity: gynoid and android …

The endocrinology of baldness

Menelaos L. Batrinos

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Male pattern baldness, scientifically known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is a very common condition, universally prevalent, which progresses with aging. The loss of scalp hair of any degree both in men and women is a cause of considerable psychological distress …

Increased leptin levels in preeclampsia: associations with BMI, estrogen and SHBG levels

Acromite Michael, Ziotopoulou Mary, Orlova Christine, Mantzoros Christos

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Leptin is secreted mainly by the white adipose tissue but is also synthesized in several non-adipose tissue organs including the placenta. Serum leptin levels are increased in normal pregnancies and are higher in preeclamptic than normal pregnant women. There is, however, a lack of empirical evidence of an independent association of serum leptin levels and preeclamsia …

Modulation of monocytic lipopolysaccharide-induced tissue factor expression and tumor necrosis factor alpha release by estrogen and calcitriol

George Vlotides, Roland Gaertner, Matthias W.A. Angstwurm

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OBJECTIVE: Modulatory effects of estrogens on both the immune and the coagulation system are only partially understood. In severe infections high estrogen levels have been observed both in men and postmenopausal women and are associated with increased mortality. Monocyte-derived tissue factor (TF) expression can activate the coagulation system and worsen the course of severe infection…