Figure 7.
Four proposed mechanisms for endocrine disruptor function. ER, estrogen receptor; E2, estradiol; T, testosterone, P450s, cytochrome P450 aromatases which convert testosterone to estradiol; ED, endocrine disruptors; NR, nuclear receptors; 1–4, four possible mechanisms for endocrine disruptor function. Mechanism 1 corresponds to enhanced gene transcription by estradiol via endocrine disruptors; mechanism 2 to supressed transcription by estradiol via endocrine disruptors, mechanism 3 to suppresion of converstion of testosterone to estradiol by endocrine disruptors, and mechanism 4 to the enhancement of testosterone to estradiol by endocrine disruptors.