Estrogen withdrawal results in bone loss, research shows that the Estrogen Receptor has a fundamental roleJuly 25, 2003Professor Lance Lanyon, Principal of The Royal Veterinary College, Karla Lee, Helen Jessop, Rosemary Suswillo, Gul Zaman from the Department of Basic Sciences at The Royal Veterinary College have shown in their research that the Estrogen Receptor has a fundamental role in bone cells by adjusting the bone architecture to match the loads individuals place on them. Their paper is published in the latest edition of Nature. The strain imposed by mechanical loading on bone tissue normally stimulates a response by bone cells that results in an adjustment to bone architecture and enables the bone to withstand reasonable loads. This research centred on why this process should become less effective in some 50 per cent of post-menopausal women who suffered fractures as a result. This research shows why estrogen withdrawal results in bone loss - the number of Estrogen Receptors is reduced by the estrogen levels. When estrogen levels decline (as at menopause) ER levels also decline to the extent that they limit the bone cells' adaptive responses to load bearing thus producing an effective environment of disuse or underuse which permits bone loss. Previous research has concentrated on the effects of estrogen on various processes assuming the Estrogen Receptor is more or less constant. One of the Estrogen Receptor's possible early reproductive functions may be to induce skeletal remodelling to release calcium for egg-laying or embyonic delvelopment. Professor Lanyon says 'the ER is amenable to therapy and there may be a way either to regulate it in bone or to affect its activity. For instance Hormone Replacement Therapy will restore the ER number and thus eliminate the restriction on the loading-related response' For a copy of the article, please contact Virginia Fisher at vfisher@rvc.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Related Estrogen Current Events and Estrogen News Articles Why the 'perfect' body isn't always perfect Having an imperfect body may come with some substantial benefits for some women, according to a new article in the December issue of Current Anthropology. Estrogen therapy could be dangerous for women with existing heart risk Hormone therapy could accentuate certain pre-existing heart disease risk factors and a heart health evaluation should become the norm when considering estrogen replacement, new research suggests. Study identifies causes of bone loss in breast cancer survivors Osteoporosis is a growing concern among breast cancer survivors and their doctors, because certain cancer drugs can cause bone loss. Migraines associated with lower risk of breast cancer Women who suffer from migraines may take at least some comfort in a recent, first-of-its-kind study that suggests a history of such headaches is associated with a significantly lower risk of breast cancer. Scientists identify new gene responsible for puberty disorders A new gene responsible for some puberty disorders has been identified by Medical College of Georgia researchers. Birth control has long-term effect on hormone exposure Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine may be one step closer to understanding why past oral contraceptive use dramatically lowers the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers later in life. Clue to genetic cause of fatal birth defect A novel enzyme may play a major role in anencephaly, offering hope for a genetic test or even therapy for the rare fatal birth defect in which the brain fails to develop, according to a study from researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Bisphenol A linked to chemotherapy resistance Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments, say University of Cincinnati (UC) scientists. Tamoxifen chemoprevention tied to early detection of breast cancer The drug tamoxifen does not prevent or treat estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer, but it can make the disease easier to find, researchers report in the Oct. 1 Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Herbal Menopause Therapy a Good Fit for Breast Cancer Patients? When it comes to understanding the effectiveness and safety of using herbal therapies with other drugs, much is unknown. Now, a University of Missouri researcher will study how black cohosh - an herbal supplement often used to relieve hot flashes in menopausal women - interacts with tamoxifen, a common drug used to treat breast cancer. More Estrogen Current Events and Estrogen News Articles |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||