Abstract:
Steroid hormone receptors control fundamental events in embryonic developmentand sex differentiation through their function as ligand-inducibletranscription factors. The consequences of disrupting these processes can beespecially profound during development due to the crucial role hormones playin controlling transient and irreversible developmental processes. Severalenvironmental chemicals, including metabolites of the fungicide vinclozolinand the pesticide DDT, disrupt male reproductive development and function byinhibiting androgen receptor mediated events. A variety ofin vitro and in vivo approacheshave been used to determine the molecular basis of environmental antiandrogentoxicity. These chemicals commonly bind androgen receptor with moderateaffinity and act as antagonists by inhibiting transcription of androgendependent genes.