ANTIANDROGENS AS ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS

Steroid hormone receptors control fundamental events in embryonic deve lopment and sex differentiation through their function as ligand-induc ible transcription factors. The consequences of disrupting these proce sses can be especially profound during development due to the crucial role hormones play in controlling transient and irreversible developme ntal processes. Several environmental chemicals, including metabolites of the fungicide vinclozolin and the pesticide DDT, disrupt male repr oductive development and function by inhibiting androgen receptor medi ated events. A variety of in vitro and in vivo approaches have been us ed to determine the molecular basis of environmental antiandrogen toxi city. These chemicals commonly bind androgen receptor with moderate af finity and act as antagonists by inhibiting transcription of androgen dependent genes.