Question

Hair provides an excellent approach for examining physiological responses to food resource shortages as it can be chemically analysed to determine the steroid hormone levels. Some researchers suggested to use testosterone and progesterone levels in the hair follicles to study nutritional profile and population-level reproductive activity in bears. In this part, you have to give a brief introduction of hormonal system. Also, address the following questions: (1) How are steroid hormones incorporated into growing hair? (ii) What are the functions of testosterone and progesterone?

Answer 1

1) The steroid hormone Testosterone plays a key imp role in the growth of body hair .Hairs from all body regions have capacity to transform androstenedione into testosterone but rate of the reduction of 17- ketosterone is less than the rule of oxidation .So that the 17 - keto rather than 17 beta - hydroxy steroids tend to accumulate in the cell. Since 5 alpha - reduction is irreversible and conditions favour the formation of 17 ketosteroids, androstenedione is the principal intracellular androgen in the hair root.

2) Functions of testosterone :- The testosterone is a primary male sex hormone it functions to develop a man's primary & secondary sex characteristics.

The influence of testosterone -

• Skin - hair growth, collagen growth.
• Sex organ - sperm production, Erektile function, Prostrate growth.
• Muscles - Muscle growth,increased strength,increased endurance
• Brain - increased sex drive,improved mood, confidence, memory function.
• Bone marrow - RBC production.
• Bones - maintaenance of bone mass density.

Function of progesterone :- The progesterone is a hormone secreted by female reproductive system that function mainly to regulate the condition of the inner lining of the uterus. Progesterone is produced by the ovaries, placenta & adrenal glands.

• Brings about secretory changes in the endometrum which enables the implantation of a fertilized ovum and prevents further ovulation through its antigonadotropic action.
• By its anti - estrogenic action and by preventing contraction of uterus, it help in maintaining pregnancy.
• Additionally, it has an anti - androgenic action.
• Progesterone has anti - mineralocorticoid activity inducing Na & water excretion.
• Progesterone acts as primarily as an antagonistic to estrogen.