Steroid hormones

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 51. Chapters: Corticosteroids, Testosterone, Libido, Progesterone, Digit ratio, Sex and psychology, Aldosterone, Tribulus terrestris, Dominance hierarchy, Hypogonadism, Andropause, Mineralocorticoid, 11-Deoxycorticosterone, Topical steroid, Clobetasol propionate, Cortisone, Spatial visualization ability, Free androgen index, 17-Hydroxyprogesterone caproate, Androgen replacement therapy, James M. Dabbs, Jr., Pregnenolone, Steroid hormone, Tibolone, Irritable male syndrome, Virilization, Androsterone, Clobetasone, Desoximetasone, Steroid atrophy, Testosterone undecanoate, Fluocinolone acetonide, Mestanolone, Desonide, Methyltestosterone, Testosterone 17beta-dehydrogenase, Amcinonide, Loteprednol, Cloprednol, The cream, Prednicarbate, Diflorasone, Flumetasone, Fluocortin, 18-Hydroxycorticosterone, Fluperolone acetate, Halcinonide, Diabetes and testosterone, Tixocortol pivalate, Prostaglandin antagonist, Formocortal, Fluprednidene acetate, Testosterone spray, Hydrocortisone buteprate, Halometasone, Hydrocortisone aceponate, Hydroxycorticosteroids, Diflucortolone valerate, Hydrocortisone butyrate. Excerpt: Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands. It is the principal male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid. In men, testosterone plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as the testis and prostate as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle, bone mass and the growth of body-hair. In addition, testosterone is essential for health and well-being as well as the prevention of osteoporosis. On average, an adult human male body produces about ten times more testosterone than an adult human female body, but females are more sensitive to the hormone. Testosterone is conserved through most vertebrates, although fish make a slightly different form called 11-ketotestosterone. Its counterpart in insects is ecdysone. These ubiquitous steroids suggest that sex hormones have an ancient evolutionary history. In general, androgens promote protein synthesis and growth of those tissues with androgen receptors. Testosterone effects can be classified as virilizing and anabolic, although the distinction is somewhat artificial, as many of the effects can be considered both. Testosterone is anabolic, meaning it builds up bone and muscle mass. Testosterone effects can also be classified by the age of usual occurrence. For postnatal effects in both males and females, these are mostly dependent on the levels and duration of circulating free testosterone. the prenatal androgen effects occur between 4 and 6 weeks of the gestation. Early infancy androgen effects are the least understood. In the first weeks of life for male infants, testosterone levels rise. The levels remain in a pubertal range for a few months, but usually reach the barely detectable levels of childhood by 4-6 months of age. The f