EPCHEM137 Foundation Concepts for Chemistry and Life Sciences
Research Assignment 1
1: What are Estrogen and Progesterone?
Estrogen and Progesterone are a steroid hormone that are derived from Cholesterol.
Estrogen and progesterone are what regulate the menstrual cycle, puberty and development of breast tissue and characteristics of male and female, development of the uterus and genitals and lastly preparing the uterus for pregnancy (1)
For Progesterone to be formed there are a few steps that occur first.
Firstly, CYPIIAI removes the 6-sided carbon chain from Cholesterol (C22-C27). This process produces the steroid Pregnenolone (C21). This is an intermediate steroid. It is still an important step as progesterone, among others including
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Cholesterol is a form of steroid and it is what the sex hormones are derived from. Estrogen and progesterone hormones are synthesized from cholesterol within the adrenal gland.
Cholesterol is insoluble in water and is a hydrophobic molecule. It has 27 carbon atoms which includes a 6-sided carbon chain (2)
ACTH and LH are hormones that stimulate cholesterol to be converted to pregnenolone and takes place in the mitochondria.
Cholesterol is formed and stored within the liver. It then enters into cells as High density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL)
LDL is known as the BAD cholesterol (10). When the level of LDL becomes more than the level of cholesterol needed within the tissue it starts to disperse the extra cholesterol into the arteries.
HDL is known as the GOOD cholesterol. Instead of HDL depositing cholesterol into the arteries like LDL does when there is an excess amount within the tissue, HDL actually carries it to the liver. The liver then eliminates it.
High levels of estrogen increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by increasing the ‘bad’ cholesterol HDL and causing low LDL ‘good’ cholesterol. This has a flow one affect. With increased cardiovascular disease also come hypertension and
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Testosterone still have the same number of carbon atoms (21) as progesterone and aldosterone. This is where testosterone differs slightly. Estrogen is derived from testosterone.
Testosterone, after being converted to pregnenolone via CYPIIAI. 17α-hydroxysteroid converts to testosterone and 3β-HSD (3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) and CYP17 converts to androstenedione. (2) CYP19 the aromatase enzyme is expressed by the Sertoli cells. This then transforms a small amount of testosterone into estadiol-17β (estrogen). Also, giving it the aromatic A-ring and a C18 structure with the loss of the 19-Methyl (4). Estrogen receptors are also expressed in an isoform within the human sperm cells (2).
Testosterone has the same metabolic effect as estrogen and progesterone does on LDL and HDL. While increasing LDL and decreasing HDL it also promotes red blood cell production, bone health and growth, dispersion of adipose tissue and an anabolic effect on muscle
TCO 5) Sex hormones and adrenal hormones are substances derived from which class of lipid?
Testosterone belongs to a class of male hormones called androgens that is vital for sexual and reproductive development. The National Institutes of Health regards “testosterone as the most important male hormone”(Rettner). Although the primary role of testosterone directly relates to males, women also produce testosterone at lower levels. Women’s total levels are about a “tenth to a twentieth of men’s levels”(Rettner). According to the Mayo Clinic, this hormone plays a role in sex drive, sperm production, fat distribution, red cell production, and maintenance of muscle strength and
The good form of this sterol in the body is your HDL, because it picks up all the bad form in your body and store it in the liver to be converted into the bile then exits out.
Cholesterol is a lipid that helps manufacture vitamin D on the surface of the skin, produces hormones, maintains cell membranes, and possibly helps cell connections in the brain.3 Based on what is known about calcium transporting throughout the body we can infer that cholesterol also has a similar process. When there is an imbalance of cholesterol homeostasis we can have high density lipoprotein (HDL) which is known as good cholesterol, or low-density lipoproteins (LDL) which is known as bad cholesterol. Lipoproteins differ in size, shape, composition, function, and contribute to vascular
A routine cholesterol screening involves a simple blood test. An LDL number of 190 mg/dL is considered high, but an HDL level below 40 mg/dL is too low and is a risk for heart disease. The levels of both HDL and LDL are added together for a total cholesterol number. The risk breakdown for the levels are;
HDL, high-density lipoprotein, is sometimes called the ‘good ’cholesterol because “it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries. Experts believe HDL acts as a scavenger, carrying LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed from the body. One- fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. A healthy level of HDL cholesterol may also prevent against heart attack or stroke, while low levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease” (http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol).
In a study conducted in 1985 observing primates, it was determined that the major effect of dietary cholesterol is its LDL raising effects. High intakes of cholesterol increase the number of circulating LDL’s and it can also change its size and composition. [12] It was during this time period that the mechanisms by which SFA are thought to increase blood cholesterol concentrations came about. One mechanism for the increase in LDL cholesterol levels is the suppression of LDL receptor activity. Studies in tissue cultures have shown that increasing the cholesterol content of a cell will down-regulate synthesis of LDL receptors. [13] This will lead to an increase in concentration of blood cholesterol. Another cause for an increase in blood cholesterol concentration through intake of dietary SFA is the composition of the newly secreted lipoproteins. With a high saturated fat intake, the LDL’s become rich in cholesterol esters, leaving the triglycerides in the blood. [14] The use of non-human primates in
and fallopian tubes. Estrogen also stimulates the growth of the external female genitalia and breasts. Fat distribution in the female is also controlled by estrogen. The non-reproductive functions of estrogen include reduction of LDL (bad cholesterol) and an increase in HDL (good cholesterol). Estrogen also preserves bone strength by slowing down cells involved in bone break down. Estrogen concentrations in the body decrease post menopause which is why women suffer from osteoporosis later in life (Parl, 2000). Estrogen utilizes a positive feedback loop by increasing the production of gonadotropin releasing hormone in the hypothalamus which then increases the release of FSH and lutenizing hormone. This increase in FSH and LH prepare the uterus
Throughout the body there are chemical messengers being excreted into blood and transported to organs and tissues to make use of their functions. These so called “chemical messengers” are also known as hormones or messengers that are blood-borne and affect target cells physically distant from the secreting cells (Copstead, 2013, pg. 1130). There are various hormones that act upon other areas of the body; however, gonadotropins, or FSH and LH, are a significant hormone for both men and women before and during the reproduction cycle.
Anabolic-androgenic steroid is a family of lipophilic hormone that derived from cholesterol, which includes the natural male hormone testosterone and its synthetic derivatives, such as nandrolone and androsterone (Janjic et al. 2012; Basile et al. 2013). Testosterone is the principle molecule that possesses both anabolic and androgenic properties, which semantically refers to the ability to stimulate the synthesis of complex biological molecules and the growth of masculine characteristics respectively (Quan et al. 2011). The supplement of testosterone has been used in medicine as an effective treatment of hypogonadism or severe muscle catabolism since its discovery. However, due to the poor efficacy in the form of oral medication and
Also, estrogen can have a favorable impact on cholesterol and a positive effect of estrogen on cholesterol values with issues of estrogen maintenance with health risks. Many individuals decide to use tamoxifen to fight estrogenic side effects; when using steroids for long periods of times (What are Steroids).
1.Cholesterol functions as the important precursor molecule for the synthesis of the steroid hormones in animal bodies, including the sex hormones.
Of particular interest are those chemicals, which mimic the female hormone of estrogen, which is
Pregnenolone is synthesized from cholesterol. It happens mainly in the adrenal glands, but also within the liver, skin, brain, testicles, ovaries, and eye retinas. Primarily a steroid, this
A little bit about steroids: aromatizing and not only.Prolonged use of steroids can lead to increased levels of estradiol in the blood and as a consequence of it - to aromatization. I note here that this property have only the so-called aromatizable steroids. Testosterone is considered to have the biggest incline to this process, of course. The second place occupies such a steroid as methandrostenolone. Boldenone and flyuksimetreon have more weak property of aromatization.There are steroids that can be converted to estradiol without the process of aromatization, these include nandrolone, norethandrolone and ethylestrenol. However, it makes no significant relief, and the level of estrogen