• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2004

It has been known for many years that administration of estrogen, a so-called female hormone, has harmful effects on male fertility. However, studies employing transgenic mice deficient in estrogen receptors reveal substantial roles for estrogen in male fertility. The aim of this article is to review and summarize the current knowledge on the estrogen receptor localization in male reproductive organs including male germ cells of rodents. Also, informations about the mice models with disrupted estrogen signaling and associated phenotypes will be provided.

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.335.2-335.2
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• 2005

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.510-522
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• 2008

Our earlier studies showed that estrogen was involved in the regulation of fluid reabsorption in adult mouse efferent ductules (ED), through estrogen receptor (ER) ${\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$ by modulating gene expression of epithelial genes involved in ion homeostasis. However, little is known about the importance of $ER{\alpha}$ in the ED during postnatal development. Based on previous findings, we hypothesized that there should be a difference in the expression of epithelial ion transporters and anion producers in the ED of postnatal wild type (WT) and estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ knockout (${\alpha}ERKO$) mice. Using absolute, comparative and semi-quantitative RT-PCR along with immunohistochemistry, we looked at expression levels of several genes in the ED across postnatal development. The presence of estrogen in the testicular fluid was indirectly ascertained by immunohistochemical detection of the P450 aromatase in the testis. There was no immunohistochemically detectable difference in the expression of P450 aromatase in the testes and ER${\beta}$ in the ED of WT and ${\alpha}$ERKO mice. ER${\alpha}$ was only detected in the ED of WT mice. The absence of ER${\alpha}$ in the ED of postnatally developing mice resulted in differential expression of mRNAs and/or proteins for carbonic anhydrase II, $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger 3, down-regulated in adenoma, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator, and $Na^+/K^+$ ATPase ${\alpha}$. Our data indicate that the absence of ER${\alpha}$ resulted in altered expression of an epithelial ion producer and transporters during postnatal development of mice. We conclude that the presence of ER${\alpha}$is important for regulation of the ED function during the prepubertal developmental and postpubertal period.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2008

In the present study, real-time PCR was performed to evaluated expression of several isoforms of monocarboxylate transporters(MCTs) and two known MCT regulatory proteins, basigin (Bsg) and embigin, in the epididymis of the male reproductive tract during postnatal development. In addition, ERα�-mediated regulation of MCT1 expression in the epididymis was determined with estrogen receptor(ER) α� knockout(α�ERKO) mice by immunohistochemistry. Results from the current study demonstrated differential expression of MCT isoform(MCT 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8), Bsg, and embigin mRNAs in rat epididymis according to postnatal age and epididymal region. In addition, immunohistochemical study of MCT1 revealed the limited localization of MCT1 at apical area of corpus and caudal epididymis. The present study also showed that expression of MCT1 was not directly regulated by ERα�. The findings from the current study suggest that MCTs would involve in establishing adequate microenvironment for sperm maturation and storage in the epididymis, eventually leading to maintenance of male fertility.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.190-197
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• 2003

This study was designed to investigate the function of estrogen in related with the effects of the antiestrogen on morphologic changes of efferent ductules of the adult male mouse. Estrogen is synthesized in the male reproductive system and is found in high concentrations in rete and seminal fluids. Adult male mice, 30 days old, were injected subcutaneously with ICI(5mg/mouse) once per week for 8 weeks. Tissues were fixed by vascular perfusion on days 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 25 and 59 post-treatment. The lumen of efferent ductules began to dilate from the day 8 and continued to the day 59 post-treatment. Epithelial cell height in the efferent ductules of the treated mice decreased all the time periods, compared to the control. Cell height in proximal region of the efferent ductules in the treated groups decreased most by 38%. Supranuclear cytoplasmic height in epithelial cell of the ducts also showed the decrease of 46%, 39% and 33% in proximal, conus and common regions in the treated groups, respectively. ICI 182,780 treatment in the male mouse reproduced a similar morphological abnormalities that were observed in the efferent ductules of the ${\alpha}ERKO$ mouse.