In males, where are estrogens produced?

Question

In females many estrogens like estradiol, are produced in the ovaries and testosterone is produced in the adrenal gland in both males and females. In males testosterone is also produced in the testes, so, where are estrogens produced in males? Is it also in the adrenal gland?

Answer 1

Both estrogen AND testosterone are produced from cholesterol along with a couple dozen other very similar hormones. The pathways by which they are made involve many steps and most of them are reversible. This means that pretty much any cell that makes any one of those hormones can make any of the others or turn one into another. It also means that they usually DO, if only in small amounts most of the time.

Women tend to produce most of these hormones in their ovaries, and they make both estrogen and testosterone there. The ovaries heavily favor the former, obviously. Men tend to produce them most in the testes and they make both of them there as well. There is evidence suggesting that sperm actually cannot mature without estrogen - thus actually making it IN the testes is a good idea!

There are other areas which can sometimes pick up the slack if the main producers are put out of commission for some reason. Adrenal glands are one, and the brain itself is another major producer of hormones - even these ones.

Answer 2

I am not an expert but I am sure that there is no organ which manufactures estrogen in the male. It's presence is due to the chemical degradation of his testosterone. When males metabolize testosterone it gets converted to estrogen. A male must be able to metabolize the estrogen efficiently or it will accumulate in his body. This efficiency lacks as a man gets older. The accumulating estrogen may cause him to develop breasts.

Answer 3

It's the same in males. The Adrenal Glands are located on top of the kidneys... which is why they are called AD RENALS... "Renal' is the combining form for "Kidney"

Actually, all testosterone starts out as Estrogen, then it differnetiates... check Guytons and you will see.