Regulation of Small Molecules on Gonadal Steroidogenesis and Hormone Receptor Activation

Dear Colleagues,
The aim of the present Special Issue is to provide the studies of the regulation of small molecules (MW less than 1100) on the steroidogenesis of androgen, estrogen, and progesterone in the gonads, including testis and ovary. It has been well known that some small molecules, such as bufalin, cinobufagin, digoxin, digitoxin, evodiamine, hydrogen peroxide, lactate, nonylphenol, s-petasin, and propylthiouracil, inhibit the steroidogenesis of testosterone, estrogen, and/or progesterone in rat gonads. However, arecoline and lactate stimulate the production of testosterone both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, bufalin, cinobufagin, evodiamine, and digitalis express antitumor effects by inhibiting the proliferation and intracellular signal pathways in the reproductive tumor cells, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. The studies of small molecules on gonadal steroidogenesis may provide not only the information of the regulation of reproductive physiology, but also the bridge effect on the oncology and therapeutic index for future anticancer investigations. We hope to invite scholars and scientists to publish their recent findings on gonadal steroidogenesis regulated by small molecules. Manuscripts on small molecules, either exogenous (e.g., Chinese medicine, clinical medicine, or drugs) or endogenous (e.g., metabolites), on the steroidogenesis of androgen, estrogen, and progesterone will be welcome. Any original article, review article, or short communication is invited to this Special Issue.

Dr. Paulus S. Wang
Guest Editor

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• small molecules (MW less than 1100)
• steroidogenesis
• gonads
• testis
• ovary
• androgen
• estrogen
• progesterone