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Department of Cell Biology, Medical School, University of Utrecht (A.M.M.v.P., D.G.d.R.), and the Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, Hubrecht Laboratory (B.v.d.B., P.T.v.d.S.), Utrecht, The Netherlands; and the Center for Biotechnology and Department of Medical Nutrition, Karolinska Institute (J.-Å.G., G.G.J.M.K.), Huddinge, Sweden
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. A. M. M. van Pelt, Department of Cell Biology, Medical School, Utrecht University, AZU H02.314, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail: A.Pelt{at}pobox.accu.uu.nl
The recently discovered estrogen receptor-ß (ERß) is expressed in rodent and human testes. To obtain insight in the physiological role of ERß we have investigated the cell type-specific expression pattern of ERß messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in the testis of rats of various ages by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. In fetal testes of rats 16 days postcoitum and testes of 4-day-old animals, fetal germ cells (gonocytes) reveal the ERß mRNA in their cytoplasm and the ERß protein in their nucleus. In testes of 11- and 15-day-old rats, ERß mRNA and protein were detected in Sertoli cells and type A spermatogonia. No signal was found in other types of germ cells. In the adult testes, expression of ERß mRNA as well as ERß protein was found in pachytene spermatocytes from epithelial stages VIIXIV and in round spermatids from stages IVIII. Low ERß expression was observed in all type A spermatogonia, including undifferentiated A spermatogonia, whereas no expression was found in In and type B spermatogonia and early spermatocytes. At all ages, Sertoli cells showed a weak hybridization signal as well as weak immunoreactivity for ERß. In adult testes, no ERß mRNA or protein was detected in the interstitial tissue, indicating that Leydig cells and peritubular myoid cells do not express ERß. The expression of ERß in fetal and late male germ cells as well as in Sertoli cells suggests that estrogens directly affect germ cells during testicular development and spermatogenesis.
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N. Atanassova, C. McKinnell, K. J. Turner, M. Walker, J. S. Fisher, M. Morley, M. R. Millar, N. P. Groome, and R. M. Sharpe Comparative Effects of Neonatal Exposure of Male Rats to Potent and Weak (Environmental) Estrogens on Spermatogenesis at Puberty and the Relationship to Adult Testis Size and Fertility: Evidence for Stimulatory Effects of Low Estrogen Levels Endocrinology, October 1, 2000; 141(10): 3898 - 3907. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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V. Pentikäinen, K. Erkkilä, L. Suomalainen, M. Parvinen, and L. Dunkel Estradiol Acts as a Germ Cell Survival Factor in the Human Testis in Vitro J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2000; 85(5): 2057 - 2067. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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W. N. Jefferson, J. F. Couse, E. P. Banks, K. S. Korach, and R. R. Newbold Expression of Estrogen Receptor {beta} Is Developmentally Regulated in Reproductive Tissues of Male and Female Mice Biol Reprod, February 1, 2000; 62(2): 310 - 317. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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N. Atanassova, C. McKinnell, M. Walker, K. J. Turner, J. S. Fisher, M. Morley, M. R. Millar, N. P. Groome, and R. M. Sharpe Permanent Effects of Neonatal Estrogen Exposure in Rats on Reproductive Hormone Levels, Sertoli Cell Number, and the Efficiency of Spermatogenesis in Adulthood Endocrinology, November 1, 1999; 140(11): 5364 - 5373. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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P. Parma, E. Pailhoux, and C. Cotinot Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of Genes Involved in Gonadal Differentiation in Pigs Biol Reprod, September 1, 1999; 61(3): 741 - 748. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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K. M. Robertson, L. O'Donnell, M. E. E. Jones, S. J. Meachem, W. C. Boon, C. R. Fisher, K. H. Graves, R. I. McLachlan, and E. R. Simpson Impairment of spermatogenesis in mice lacking a functional aromatase (cyp 19) gene PNAS, July 6, 1999; 96(14): 7986 - 7991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. F. Couse and K. S. Korach Estrogen Receptor Null Mice: What Have We Learned and Where Will They Lead Us? Endocr. Rev., June 1, 1999; 20(3): 358 - 417. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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H. Zhang, J. S. Thomsen, L. Johansson, J.-A. Gustafsson, and E. Treuter DAX-1 Functions as an LXXLL-containing Corepressor for Activated Estrogen Receptors J. Biol. Chem., December 15, 2000; 275(51): 39855 - 39859. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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