A number of conditions related to sex-reversal in boys and men and precocious puberty in girls are caused by estrogen-secreting adrenal tumors. In these tumors, cytochrome P450 aromatase (aromatase) that is encoded in the CYP19 gene is expressed at high levels. To investigate the molecular mechanism of aromatase expression in these adrenal tumors, we characterized the activity, gene transcript ...

Background Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent female endocrine disorder that affects 5-10% of women. PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism, oligo-/anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. The aim of the present research is to evaluate the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and aromatase (CYP19) mRNA in the ovaries of an estradiol valerate (EV)-induc...

The peripheral conversion of testosterone to estradiol by aromatase is the primary source of endogenous estrogen in postmenopausal women. Studies indicating that placental aromatase is able to metabolize methadone to its primary metabolite, 2-ethylidene-1, 5-dimethyl-3, 3-diphenylpyrrolidin (EDDP), led us to test the hypothesis that methadone is able to act as an inhibitor of aromatase. Using r...

Some investigators have suggested that the triazine herbicide atrazine can cause demasculinization of male amphibians via upregulation of the enzyme aromatase. Male adult African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) were exposed to three nominal concentrations of atrazine (1, 25, or 250 microg atrazine/l) for 36 days, and testicular aromatase activity and CYP19 gene expression, as well as concentratio...

Cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19) converts androgens to estrogens. Unlike mammals, teleosts have two CYP19 genes, expressed differentially in ovary (CYP19A1) and neuronal tissues (CYP19A2). The primary purpose of this study was to demonstrate the potential involvement of CYP19A2 in the reproductive endocrinology of teleosts. Channel catfish CYP19A2 (ccCYP19A2) cDNAs were isolated from the brain...

Rapid isolation of DNA from goat blood using different brands of detergents available in Indian market, is reported. The integrity and efficiency of these DNA preparations were compared with genomic DNA isolated by a standard kit (Flexi gene DNA kit), using amplification of exon 2 of CYP19 (aromatase) gene. The similar and significant amplification of this gene was obtained using genomic DNA is...