TY - JOUR
T1 - Estrogen-dependent and -independent estrogen receptor-α signaling separately regulate male fertility
AU - Sinkevicius, Kerstin W.
AU - Laine, Muriel
AU - Lotan, Tamara L.
AU - Woloszyn, Karolina
AU - Richburg, John H.
AU - Greene, Geoffrey L.
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - Estrogen receptor-α(ERα) plays a critical role in male reproductive tract development and fertility. To determine whether estrogen-dependent and -independent ERα mechanisms are involved in male fertility, we examined male estrogen nonresponsive ERα knock-in mice. These animals have a point mutation (G525L) in the ligand-binding domain of ERα that significantly reduces interaction with, and response to, endogenous estrogens but does not affect growth factor activation of ligand-independent ERα pathways. Surprisingly, we found that ligand-independent ERα signaling is essential for concentrating epididymal sperm via regulation of efferent ductule fluid reabsorption. In contrast, estrogen-dependent ERα signaling is required for germ cell viability, most likely through support of Sertoli cell function. By treating estrogen nonresponsive ERα knock-in (ENERKI) mice with the ERα selective synthetic agonist propyl pyrazole triol, which is able to bind and activate G525L ERα in vivo, we discovered male fertility required neonatal estrogen-mediated ERα signaling. Thus, our work indicates both estrogen-dependent and-independent pathways play separable roles in male murine reproductive tract development and that the role of ERα in human infertility should be examined more closely.
AB - Estrogen receptor-α(ERα) plays a critical role in male reproductive tract development and fertility. To determine whether estrogen-dependent and -independent ERα mechanisms are involved in male fertility, we examined male estrogen nonresponsive ERα knock-in mice. These animals have a point mutation (G525L) in the ligand-binding domain of ERα that significantly reduces interaction with, and response to, endogenous estrogens but does not affect growth factor activation of ligand-independent ERα pathways. Surprisingly, we found that ligand-independent ERα signaling is essential for concentrating epididymal sperm via regulation of efferent ductule fluid reabsorption. In contrast, estrogen-dependent ERα signaling is required for germ cell viability, most likely through support of Sertoli cell function. By treating estrogen nonresponsive ERα knock-in (ENERKI) mice with the ERα selective synthetic agonist propyl pyrazole triol, which is able to bind and activate G525L ERα in vivo, we discovered male fertility required neonatal estrogen-mediated ERα signaling. Thus, our work indicates both estrogen-dependent and-independent pathways play separable roles in male murine reproductive tract development and that the role of ERα in human infertility should be examined more closely.
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U2 - 10.1210/en.2008-1016
DO - 10.1210/en.2008-1016
M3 - Article
C2 - 19264877
AN - SCOPUS:66649119171
SN - 0013-7227
VL - 150
SP - 2898
EP - 2905
JO - Endocrinology
JF - Endocrinology
IS - 6
ER -