Estrogens and health in males

Estrogen receptor concentrations are higher in the male reproductive tract than in other organs. Brain structure, neuronal organization and behavioral sex differences result from brain conversion of testosterone into estradio l within the brain. Estrogens modulate hormonal secretion at pituitary leve l and immune function at thymus level. Estrogens promote vasodilatatory and protective effects on the cardiovascular. system by acting on the vascular smooth muscle and endothelium. Adult men with mutations in genes for estro gen receptor or. aromatase are affected by osteopenia and tall stature, ope n epiphysis, which is corrected by estrogen treatment. Over the past few ye ars there has seen a decline in sperm concentration, which has been attribu ted to exposure of fetal testes to estrogens. Many substances have estrogen -like properties and inhibit the action of estradiol or testosterone action . In conclusion, estrogens play a pivotal role in men also. In particular, taking in account their prevalent origin from testosterone aromatization at tissue and peripheral levels the presence and the distribution of the two receptors (ER alpha and ER beta) are responsible for different responses in physiological and pathological conditions. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.