What is the Estrone?
Estrone is a female sex hormone (estrogen) secreted by the ovary and produced at the peripheral level, especially in the adipose tissue, by conversion of androstenedione by the aromatase enzyme.
This hormone is involved in numerous physiological processes, which are fundamental for the whole organism.
Estrone exerts its action by interacting with estrogen receptors, thus activating a cascade of chemical signals which - depending on the case - leads to different biological responses.
Concentration
Concentration of estrone in the different phases of a woman's life
The levels of estrone present in the female organism vary over time according to the phase of life in which the same woman finds herself.
During the fertile age of the woman, the concentrations of estrone are lower than those of diestradiol, which also predominates as regards the power of action; during pregnancy, on the other hand, estriol prevails, a placental steroid with very low estrogenic activity. Estrone becomes predominant only after lamenopause, due to the blocking of ovarian production of estradiol, with a transition to average plasma estrogenic concentrations of 10 pg / ml, against the 100 pg / ml of the fertile period. The concentration of estrone prevails over that of estradiol even before the puberty.
Due to its androstenedione-dependent origin, estrone levels tend to be elevated in women with hyperandrogenism, resulting for example ovarian apolicystosis, use of testosterone derivatives or androgen-secreting tumors.
Estrone Sulfate
As mentioned, estrone can be produced from androstenedione, just as it can be synthesized from estradiol.
Estrone, in turn, can be converted into estrone sulphate, a derivative with a rather prolonged half-life, which acts as a reserve of estradiol and estrone (originated at the cellular level by the steroid sulfatase).
Estrone Sulfate and Hair
The beneficial role that estrogens (such as estrone) exert on hair has been well known for a long time. Just think, for example, of a pregnant woman, whose organism is rich in female sex hormones which translates, between the other things, in an increase in the duration of the hair growth phase, decreasing the number of hairs that enter the telogen phase, therefore, reducing their fall.
Estrone - similarly to other estrogens - acts precisely in this way, that is, it has the ability to prolong the duration of the hair growth phase (anagen).
At the same time, it is able to activate adenyl cyclase and the production of growth factors that preside over cell multiplication (HrGF) at the level of the hair matrix.
However, the important trans-cutaneous absorption of this hormone - with consequent systemic repercussions - has considerably limited the possibilities of topical use of estrone.
Fortunately, this obstacle has been circumvented by resorting to the administration of oestrone sulphate, which, as we have seen, is converted into oestrone by the pilosebaceous follicle thanks to the action of the sulfatase enzyme. For this reason, local treatment with estrone sulfate may be indicated in the presence of female androgenetic dialopecia. In particular, in the treatment of female androgenetic alopecia, estrone sulfate can be used both alone and in combination with minoxidil.
The advisability of a topical administration of estrone sulfate in man, even if possible, must however be evaluated with particular caution by the attending physician.
Finally, it should be noted that - contrary to what happened with estrone - no cases of side effects due to systemic absorption of estrone sulphate have yet been reported. In fact, this hormone can be defined as biologically inactive, since it can only be used in the tissues in which the sulfatase enzyme is present which transforms it into its active form (estrone, in fact).
Therefore, if through topical application, estrone sulfate were absorbed as such and entered the circulation, given its inactivity, it would not be able to cause systemic reactions.
.jpg)
