SF-1: a critical mediator of steroidogenesis.

Studies in knockout mice have established that the orphan nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) plays essential roles in the development and function of the primary steroidogenic organs. These SF-1 knockout mice lacked adrenal glands and gonads, causing adrenocortical insufficiency and sex reversal of their internal and external genitalia. They also had impaired expression of pituitary gonadotropins and agenesis of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), confirming roles of SF-1 at all three levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-steroidogenic organ axis. Ongoing experiments are directed at developing methods to inactivate SF-1 in a tissue-specific manner.