Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
11
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-10-17
pubmed:abstractText
Failure of the testes to descend into the scrotum (cryptorchidism) is one of the most common birth defects in humans. In utero exposure to estrogens, such as 17beta-estradiol (E2) or the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES), down-regulates insulin-like 3 (Insl3) expression in embryonic Leydig cells, which in turn results in cryptorchidism in mice. To identify the molecular mechanism whereby xenoestrogens block Insl3 gene transcription, we performed a microarray analysis of wild-type or estrogen receptor (ER) alpha-mutant testes exposed in utero to pharmacological doses of E2 or DES. Six and 31 genes were respectively down-regulated and up-regulated by estrogen exposure (> or =4-fold). All six genes down-regulated by estrogen exposure, including Insl3 and the steroidogenic genes steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase, were done so by an ERalpha-dependent mechanism. In contrast, up-regulation was mediated either by ERalpha for 12 genes or by an independent mechanism for the 19 remaining genes. Finally, we show that Insl3 gene expression and testicular descent were not affected by in utero exposure to E2 or DES in ERalpha mutant mice, whereas absence of ERbeta did not influence the effect of these estrogens. Collectively, these data demonstrate that xenoestrogens inhibit the endocrine functions of fetal Leydig cells through an ERalpha-dependent mechanism.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0013-7227
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
148
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
5507-19
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Cryptorchidism, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Diethylstilbestrol, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Estrogen Receptor alpha, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Estrogens, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Female, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Fetus, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Gene Expression Profiling, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Genetic Predisposition to Disease, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Gonadal Dysgenesis, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Male, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Mice, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Mice, Inbred C57BL, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Mice, Transgenic, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Models, Biological, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Pregnancy, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, pubmed-meshheading:17673513-Testis
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
Estrogen receptor alpha is a major contributor to estrogen-mediated fetal testis dysgenesis and cryptorchidism.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Genetic Medicine and Development University of Geneva Medical School 1, rue Michel-Servet, CH 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't