Introduction

Abstract

On Dec. 3-6, 1995, the National Center for Toxicological Research sponsored an international meeting to provide a forum for presentation and discussion of recent findings in phytoestrogen research. There is widespread exposure of the human population as well as other animal species to plant chemicals possessing estrogenic activity. This fact is the primary driving force for research in the field. The pace of investigation of the numerous roles that these chemicals play in cellular processes and their impact on human health has clearly quickened since the publication of papers from the Second International Conference on Phytoestrogens (see Proc SOC Exp Biol Med 208: 1-1 38, 1995). This is reflected in the increasing diversity of investigations, as demonstrated by the papers in this issue. In addition to the papers, I call attention to the announcement which provides instructions for access to NCTR's Phytoestrogen Bibliography located on the Internet.