From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-03-13 00:26:33 UTC
Subject: RE: I wonder...
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1336771.1110673593424.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Here IS an overlap for you, Alicia. One of the drugs used to reduce the prostate welling that male ferrets often get with adrenal neoplasia is also one of the drugs used to treat human male pattern baldness:
>Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) -- a
>prescription pill that inhibits the production
>of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone.
>Like minoxidil, you are more likely to have
>slower hair loss than actual new hair growth.
> In general, it is somewhat more effective than
>minoxidil. The previous degree of hair loss
>returns when you stop taking the drug.
which can be found in
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001177.htm
The androgens (male hormones) and estrogens serve a large number of functions. For example, androgens help in building muscle, and estrogens help with brain function (Hey, don't believe the research -- just ask any woman ;-).) The hormones can be changed back and forth into each other in bodies, and more organs create these hormones than just the reprodcutive tissue. As we all know from seeing ill ferrets, the adrenals do. Fat is also an active hormonal producer that can create estrogens.