Abstract
Estrogens play important roles in the regulation of testis development and spermatogenesis. Moreover, several evidences suggest that estrogen signaling can be involved in testicular tumorigenesis. The physiological effects of estrogen are mediated by the classical nuclear estrogen receptors ESR1 and 2, which regulate both genomic and rapid signaling events. In the recent years, a member of the seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor family, GPR30 (GPER), has been identified to promote estrogen action in target cells including testicular cells. Ours and other studies reported that GPER is expressed in normal germ cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids), somatic cells (Sertoli and Leydig cells), and it is also involved in mediating estrogen action during spermatogenesis and testis development. In addition, GPER seems to be involved in modulating estrogen-dependent testicular cancer cell growth. However, in this context, the effects of GPER stimulation on cell survival and proliferation appear to be cell type specific. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the functions regulated by estrogens and mediated by GPER in normal and tumor testicular cells.
Highlights
The three main endogenous estrogens within the testis are 17βestradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and estriol (E3) among which the predominant and most active steroid is E2
This review will focus on the roles of estrogenic signaling in spermatogenesis and testicular tumors, with special emphasis on rapid mechanisms of action mediated by the novel estrogen receptor (ER) GPER
Another important finding is the widespread presence of ESR1 and ESR2 in both somatic and germ testicular cells
Summary
Estrogens play important roles in the regulation of testis development and spermatogenesis. Ours and other studies reported that GPER is expressed in normal germ cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids), somatic cells (Sertoli and Leydig cells), and it is involved in mediating estrogen action during spermatogenesis and testis development. GPER seems to be involved in modulating estrogendependent testicular cancer cell growth. In this context, the effects of GPER stimulation on cell survival and proliferation appear to be cell type specific. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the functions regulated by estrogens and mediated by GPER in normal and tumor testicular cells
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