Abstract
Biologically active steroids are synthesised de novo in specialised cells of several organs, including the adrenal gland, testis, ovary, brain, placenta and adipose tissue. Regardless of organ or tissue, the rate-limiting step in steroid hormone synthesis is the movement of cholesterol across the mitochondrial membrane (i.e. from the outer to the inner membrane) mediated by the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein. Subsequent conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone by cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc) represents the initiation of steroidogenesis. Chemically mediated disruption of StAR and P450scc expression may represent the first step in the sequence of related event cascades underlying xenoestrogen-induced toxicity and transmittable disturbances to the whole organism level. This may include, but is not limited to, alterations in sexual differentiation, growth, reproduction, development and metabolism. Despite the integral role of StAR and P450scc in acute steroidogenesis, and popular demand from regulatory agencies, bioassays for evaluating the effect of endocrine-disrupting chemicals have the potential to overlook chemicals that may modulate estrogenic responses through mechanisms that do not involve direct binding to estrogen receptors (ERs). In addition to their effect as direct ER agonists, the effects of endocrine disruptors may be evaluated and interpreted as interference with steroidogenesis and with the steroidal regulation of the normal development and function of juvenile, male and female individuals. Knowledge of these effects is scarce, indicating that relatively little is known about the mechanisms or mode-of-action of chemical alterations to steroidogenesis and their potential toxicity for wildlife species. In addition, analytical methods for the complete adaptation of these responses as biomarkers of response and effect are yet to be properly validated.
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