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The three major naturally occurring estrogens in women are Estradiol , Estriol and Estrone . In the body these are all produced from Androgen s through enzyme action. Estradiol is produced from Testosterone and estrone from Androstenedione . Estrone is weaker than estradiol, and in post-menopausal women more estrone is present than estradiol. ESTROGEN PRODUCTION Estrogen is produced primarily by developing follicles in the Ovaries , the Corpus Luteum and the Placenta . Some estrogens are also produced in smaller amounts by other tissues such as the Liver , Adrenal Gland s and the Breast s. These secondary sources of estrogen are especially important in post- Menopausal women. Synthesis of oestrogenes starts in Theca Interna cells in the Ovary , by the synthesis of Androstenedione from Cholesterol . Androstenedione is a substance of moderate androgenic activity. This compound crosses the Basal Membrane into the surrounding Granulosa Cell s, where it is converted to estrone or estradiol, either immediately or through Testosterone . There is evidence that a testosterone supplement can support female sexual desire (Braunstein et al, 2005). Many studies of the role of sex steroid hormones on sexual desire have been done in naturally post-menopausal women or women who have had their ovaries surgically removed. Such studies have found better correlation between sexual desire and androgen levels than for estrogen levels (Warnock et al, 2005). A clinical study found that women aged 18 to 44 who reported low sexual desire tended to have low levels of Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (Davis et al, 2005). Dehydroepiandrosterone is an abundant sex steroid in women and like other steroids is efficiently Sulfated . Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a precursor steroid that can be converted to estrogens (estradiol) and androgens such as testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone 1. MEDICAL APPLICATIONS A range of synthetic and natural substances have been identified that possess estrogenic activity. These include -applied estrogen may have a different spectrum of side-effects than does estrogen administered by the oral route {Link without Title} . ESTROGEN AND LUNG DISEASE Among people over 70 who have never smoked, women make up 85 percent of those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Mice studies suggest the possibility that COPD incidence may be tied to decreases in estrogen as women age. (Female mice that had their ovaries removed to deprive them of estrogen lost 45 percent of their working Alveoli from their lungs. Upon receiving estrogen, the mice recovered full lung function.) Two Protein s that are activated by estrogen play distinct roles in breathing. One protein builds new alveoli, the other stimulates the alveoli to expel Carbon Dioxide . Loss of estrogen hampered both functions in the test mice. (Massaro & Massaro, 2004) REFERENCES
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