Estrogen

Estrogen is secreted in both males and females by the gonads, testes in males and ovaries in femaes.Estrgogen's main function is to maintain the female reproductive system, especially after an egg is fertilized. High levels of estrogen also manifest in the generally smaller body size, higher pitched voice, breasts, and wider hips. In addition to maintaining the reproductive system, estrogen serves to regulate body temperature, heart health, bone integrity, and cognition. Estrogen, a lipid steroid, acts on a cell through the Estrogen Receptor. This receptor is found inside the nucleus and binds with estrogen, which has diffused into the cell, to transcribe a sequence of mRNA from the DNA.



Estrogens are also responsible for bone integrity. Estrogen defficiency, when the body does not have enough estrogen, causes osteoporosis. With low levels of estrogen, the bone cell turnover is not regulated. The bone cells die and are not replaced at an uncontrollable rate. The bones become weak, and often break. Doctor's prescribe strogen and raloxifine in order to restore normality to the bones.

More information on estrogen related diseases can be found here: []

Benjamin Petrie