An antagonist is
an agent that binds to the receptor of a cell and thereby
inhibits the action of a cell. When used in prostate
cancer hormone therapy, the LHRH
antagonist, which may also be called the GnRH (
gonadotropin releasing hormone), binds to receptors
in the pituitary gland. Binding to the receptors prevents
normal LHRH produced by the hypothalamus from reaching
the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland cannot communicate
with the hypothalamus as the hypothalamus is trying
to say that the body’s levels of testosterone
have dropped. The pituitary gland does not release LH,
so the level of testosterone drops to castrate level.
|
