title: Evidence for a potential role of estrogen in the penis: detection of estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta messenger ribonucleic acid and protein.
abstract: Body tissues are traditionally classified as estrogen targets based on both the response to the hormone and the presence of estrogen receptors (ERs). We undertook the study on expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the penis to identify compartments/cells responsive to estrogen, using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, in situ hybridization, and RT-PCR analyses. Expressions of ERalpha and ERbeta in the rat penis were age dependent at both mRNA and protein levels, with the most intense signals being observed during the perinatal period and declining thereafter with age. Initial signals (fetal d 17) of ERalpha were localized to the mesenchyme and subepithelial stroma and later (postnatal d 2) to the corpus spongiosus, corpus cavernosus, and urethral epithelia. ERbeta was initially detected by postnatal d 2 and was localized diffusely in corpus spongiosus and cavernosus in immature rats. In the adult, both ERs were concentrated largely to the urethral epithelia and vascular and neuronal structures. The present study provides the first evidence for ER expression in the penis. Thus, our data add the penis to the list of estrogen-responsive tissues in males and provide a base and insight for future studies aimed at investigating a functional role of estrogen in the penis, especially in development.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Subrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jesmin
authors.forename: Chishimba N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Mowa
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Alaa-Eldin
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Salah-Eldin
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Togashi
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitabatake
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry; D010413:Penis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014521:Urethra / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen