内容简介：
The past few years have witnessed the emergence of steroid hormones as the wonder molecules which generate as much discussion in the scientific literature as they do in a typical living room. This transition has been a result of the tremendous public and scientific interest in the normal functioning of the hormones as well their suggested involvement in several clinical conditions. In the recent past, notable scientific and technological advances have been made in the areas of contraception and regulation of fertility. Steroid receptors are the indispensable mediators of hormonal responses and are complex protein molecules which appear to exist in association with other, yet undefined, proteins and / or factors. Receptors for vitamin D, retinoic acid and the thyroid hormones share structural similarities with steroid receptors, and the roster of this superfamily is still expanding. While our knowledge of the diversity and magnitude of steroid effects has advanced, the precise mode of steroid hormone action has alluded investigators. This volume brings together an international team of prominent investigators who discuss their most recent work on the basic and clinical aspects of steroid / nuclear receptors. The contributions represent updated versions of the invited presentations made at The Second Meadow Brook Conference on Steroid Receptors in Health and Disease. I am grateful to my colleagues on the Scientific Committee: Etienne Baulieu, Jack Gorski, Benita Katzenellenbogen, David Toft and James Wittliff, who provided the vision and guidance in formulating an outstanding program. The organizers gratefully acknowledge the financial support received from the conference sponsors, Oakland University, The Meadow Brook Hall, Serono Symposia, USA, William Beaumont Hospital, Schering-Plough Corporation, Eli Lilly & Company, The E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Company, Affinity Bioreagents, Inc., and The Du Pont Merck Pharmaceutical Company. For the efficient execution of the conference program, I am indebted to my colleagues, Bill Underwood, Art Griggs, Amrita Bhakta and John Shiff. The cooperation from the authors and the excellent secretarial assistance received from Rita Perris made the process of editing this volume an enjoyable and memorable experience. I am also pleased to extend my warmest wishes and cooperation to the publisher, Birkhauser Boston, who has decided to introduce a new series, Hormones in Health and Disease, with the present volume as the inaugural issue.