Biology of Aromatase in the Mammary Gland

摘要: While the ovaries are principal source of systemic estrogen in premenopausal nonpregnant woman, other sites biosynthesis present throughout body and these become major sources beyond menopause. These include mesenchymal cells adipose tissue skin, osteoblasts, perhaps chondrocytes bone, vascular endothelial aortic smooth muscle cells, as well a number brain including medial preoptic/anterior hypothalamus, basal hypothalamus amygdala. extragonadal possess several fundamental features which differ from those ovaries. Principally, synthesized within compartments is probably only biologically active at local level paracrine or `intracrine' fashion. Thus total amount by may be small, but concentrations achieved quite high, exert significant biological influence locally. play an important hitherto largely unrecognized, physiological pathophysiological role.