Estrogen receptors ¿ and ß in human testis: Both isoforms are expressed

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

cavaco, je (Author) Other; Laurentino, SS (Author) Other; barros, a (Author) FMUP; sousa, m (Author) ICBAS; Socorro, S (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Systems biology in reproductive medicine

Vol. 55

Pages: 137-144

ISSN: 1939-6368

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

Scopus - 58 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00F-J4W

DOI: 10.3109/19396360902855733

Abstract (EN): Currently, clinical and experimental evidence point to an essential role of estrogens and estrogen receptors in male fertility. The expression of estrogen receptor ¿ (ER¿) and ß (ERß) in human testis has been described. However, some studies were unable to detect ER¿, while others report the expression of both isoforms, with ERß presenting a wide distribution within somatic and germinal testicular cells. This has suggested that estrogens may exert their testicular effects exclusively through ERß. The present work aims to study the expression of ER¿ and ERß in testicular biopsies of men with conserved and disrupted spermatogenesis, in order to better clarify the positive cell populations. Human testicular tissue was obtained from 10 men undergoing testicular biopsy for infertility relief due to azoospermia: two patients had secondary obstructive azoospermia with conserved spermatogenesis, five had Sertoli cell-only syndrome, two had hypospermatogenesis and one had meiotic arrest. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) allowed the detection of both ER¿ and ERß mRNAs in all samples. Immunohistochemistry revealed that ER¿ was present in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round spermatids and elongated spermatids/spermatozoa, while ERß was present in the same cell types except spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. This study demonstrates ER¿ mRNA expression in human testis and describes its localization in somatic and germ cell subtypes. These findings suggest that both ER isoforms are involved in the control of testicular function. © 2009 Informa UK Ltd.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific