help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM JCEM Call for Nominations for EIC
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Bulard, J.
Right arrow Articles by Schaison, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Bulard, J.
Right arrow Articles by Schaison, G.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 64, 618-623, Copyright © 1987 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Increased aromatase activity in pubic skin fibroblasts from patients with isolated gynecomastia

J Bulard, I Mowszowicz and G Schaison

Aromatase activity (AR) was studied in pubic skin fibroblasts from eight patients with isolated gynecomastia (PSFG) and five normal subjects (PSFC). Cell monolayers were incubated in the presence of [3H]androstenedione (2 nM) for 4 or 24 h. Culture medium was extracted after addition of [14C] carriers to monitor recovery. Metabolites were separated by two successive chromatographic steps. Estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2) were characterized by crystallization, the other metabolites: 16-hydroxyestrone (16 alpha-OHE1) estriol (E3), and epiestriol (epiE3) by their chromatographic migration. AR was expressed either as femtomoles of E2 per microgram DNA (ARE2) or as total aromatized metabolites (ART = E1 + E2 + 16 alpha-OHE1 + E3 + epiE3/microgram DNA). After 4 h of incubation, no ARE2 could be measured in PSFC; it was low but significant in PSFG (0.03 +/- 0.02 (SEM) fmol/microgram DNA, P less than 0.01). The difference in ART was even more striking: 0.28 +/- 0.1 fmol/microgram DNA in PSFC, 3.15 +/- 2.88 in PSFG (P less than 0.05). 16 alpha-OHE1 represented in this latter group 62.5% of total aromatized metabolites vs. 39% in PSFC. After 24 h, ART was 4.17 +/- 3.70 and 1.02 +/- 0.42 fmol/microgram DNA in PSFG and PSFC, respectively (P less than 0.05); E3 + epiE3 represented 50% of the metabolites in both groups. In conclusion, AR is increased in PSFG relative to PSFC and an important oxidative metabolism of estrogens exists in both types of cells. This increased peripheral AR could result in increased formation of estrogens at the target cell site and represent an element of androgen-estrogen imbalance which would favor the development of gynecomastia.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur J EndocrinolHome page
I. Czajka-Oraniec, W. Zgliczynski, A. Kurylowicz, M. Mikula, and J. Ostrowski
Association between gynecomastia and aromatase (CYP19) polymorphisms
Eur. J. Endocrinol., May 1, 2008; 158(5): 721 - 727.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. A. Stratakis, A. Vottero, A. Brodie, L. S. Kirschner, D. DeAtkine, Q. Lu, W. Yue, C. S. Mitsiades, A. W. Flor, and G. P. Chrousos
The Aromatase Excess Syndrome Is Associated with Feminization of Both Sexes and Autosomal Dominant Transmission of Aberrant P450 Aromatase Gene Transcription
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 1998; 83(4): 1348 - 1357.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 NEJMHome page
G. D. Braunstein
Gynecomastia
N. Engl. J. Med., February 18, 1993; 328(7): 490 - 495.
[Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1987 by The Endocrine Society