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| POSTED 12/19/2005 |
Lack of Estrogen Receptor May Lead to Infertility
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Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) may have discovered why some women don’t respond to fertility drugs. The study found that mice engineered to lack the gene for estrogen receptor did not ovulate in response to fertility drugs.
“We found that the beta estrogen receptor plays a role in moving the egg outside the ovary so it can be fertilized,” Kenneth Korach of the NIEHS told BioNews.org. “If the same is true in humans it could help explain some cases of infertility and also help women to choose the most effective treatments.”
The NIEHS plans to investigate whether defects in oestrogen receptor beta are inherited or if they’re caused by environmental effects. They also plan to study whether diet can change the effects. Genisten, a compound found in soy products, can mimic the effects of estrogen and could perhaps interact with the receptor and alter ovarian function.
Date Posted: December 19, 2005 |
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