Iain J. McEwan

Steroid Hormone Receptors in Endocrine Physiology and Diseases covers the role of steroid hormones in human physiology and receptor activity in the pathophysiology of disease. The book discusses how these receptors can be used as therapeutic targets for the treatment of conditions from cancer to aging, offering immediate applications of biochemical principles into clinical applications such as diagnosis and treatment. This book is a valuable reference for graduate and postdoctoral scientists but is also ideal for medical students interested in the functional role of various steroid hormone receptors in a wide variety of endocrine related diseases. Steroid hormone receptors (SHRs) are known to play vital roles in normal physiology through the control of development, differentiation, metabolic homeostasis and reproduction. Due to their involvement in various pathological and disease conditions, SHRs are also important therapeutic targets in several disorders including inflammation, autoimmune diseases, hormone-dependent cancers, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases.

This volume provides a brief résumé of the history of testosterone research, from the early pioneers through to the most recent advances in the field. We discover how steroid hormones were first identified and how testosterone was shown to be essential for male development. Moving forward we explore how and where testosterone is produced, and how the body controls testosterone production. We then investigate the impact testosterone has on different body systems both during their development and function, and how perturbation of testosterone action is associated with disease. We complete our story with an exploration of the emerging roles of testosterone in clinical therapy, and the future potential for manipulation of the testosterone signaling system for human health benefit.