Production and Actions of Estrogens

Estrogens and estrogen-like substances are widely distributed in animals and plants, and it is now clear that estrogens have both nuclear and nonnuclear actions. This review article summarizes the production, metabolism, and actions of estrogens, with particular attention to the nuclear actions of estrogens and the mechanisms that underlie the different estrogen-agonist and estrogen-antagonist actions of selective estrogen-receptor–modulating drugs.