Impact of androgen/estrogen ratio: Lessons learned from the aromatase over-expression mice

The estrogen signaling plays a pivotal role not only in female reproduction but also in recent years its emerging importance in the males has been shown too. As estrogens and androgens seem to be the two sides of one coin, the better understanding of this physiological and pathophysiological role of androgen/estrogen balance is becoming more crucial. Aromatase is the key enzyme to synthesize estrogens from androgens. Along with the progress of new technologies and tools like transgenic facilities, we are able to analyze in more detail about the involvement of aromatase in the molecular mechanisms underlying the androgen/estrogen essential balance. This review would be dealing with the use of transgenic models over-expressing aromatase in order to analyze the effects of an estrogen/androgen ratio increase in mice, especially on male reproductive biology. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.