| First Author | Gould ML | Year | 2007 |
| Journal | Reproduction | Volume | 134 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 271-9 |
| PubMed ID | 17660237 | Mgi Jnum | J:123340 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3718133 | Doi | 10.1530/REP-07-0025 |
| Citation | Gould ML, et al. (2007) The effects of oestrogen receptors {alpha} and {beta} on testicular cell number and steroidogenesis in mice. Reproduction 134(2):271-9 |
| abstractText | Oestrogen plays an important role in testicular function. This study used mice null for oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) or beta (ERbeta) to investigate which receptor mediates the effects of oestrogen within the testis. Groups of ERalpha knockout mice (alphaERKO) and ERbeta knockout mice (betaERKO) and wild-type littermates (n=5-8) were killed at 11 weeks post partum. One testis was fixed in Bouin's fluid for stereology and the other frozen for testosterone measurement. Trunk blood was collected for testosterone RIA. The optical disector combined with the fractionator methodology was used to estimate Leydig, Sertoli and germ cell numbers. At all times, the knockout animals were compared with their wild-type littermates. The physical disector quantified cells stained immunohistochemically for the apoptotic marker active caspase-3 and Hoechst staining was used to identify nuclear fragmentation. The mean Leydig cell volume was measured using the point sampled intercept method. The Leydig cell number per testis was significantly increased in betaERKO mice but not in alphaERKO mice. Plasma and testicular testosterone concentrations were increased in alphaERKO mice but no changes were observed in betaERKO mice. Hypertrophic Leydig cell changes were observed in alphaERKO mice, and a decreased mean cell volume was seen in betaERKO mice. No difference in Sertoli cell number per testis was observed in any of the groups. The spermatogonial cell number per testis was increased in betaERKO mice. Immunohistochemistry identified increased numbers of active caspase-3-labelled germ cells per testis in alphaERKO mice but not betaERKO mice. Hoechst staining supported these findings. There was significant germ cell loss in alphaERKO mice. This study suggests that ERbeta may be involved in regulation of Leydig cell proliferation and testosterone production in the adult mouse testis. |
