[Hormonal mechanisms of sex differentiation of the liver: the modern concepts and problems].

Abstract

The level of thousands of genes expression in the liver is differentiated on the basis of sexual dimorphism that affects the frequency of appearance of different pathological forms. The main hormonal factors of the liver's sex differentiation are sex steroids and growth hormone. The impulsive and close to continuous secretion character of growth hormone in male and female individuals may have effects on masculinization or feminization processes, accordingly. The mechanism of decoding the growth hormone's secretion pattern by liver cells is not known. Some genes in the liver with the expression of sex differentiated genes, have so called memory of gender, which is created, probably, during early postnatal ontogenesis with involvement of both androgens and growth hormone. The physical transporter of this memory is not known. The possible molecular mechanisms of various effects based on sex differentiation in liver have been described in this survey, including unique cases of determining the role of the growth hormone's pattern and permissive function of the growth hormone concerning the direct effect of sex steroids to hepatocytes.

• Authors: A N Smirnov
• Journal: Ontogenez (Ontogenez) 2009 Sep-Oct Vol. 40 Issue 5 Pg. 334-54 ISSN: 0475-1450 [Print] Russia (Federation)
• PMID: 19894609 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Gonadal Steroid Hormones
• Hormones
• Thyroid Hormones
• Growth Hormone

Topics

• Animals
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Glucocorticoids (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Gonadal Steroid Hormones (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Growth Hormone (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Hormones (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Humans
• Liver (enzymology, metabolism)
• Liver Diseases (etiology, genetics, metabolism)
• Sex Characteristics
• Thyroid Hormones (biosynthesis, genetics)