Lack of functional estrogen receptor beta gene disrupts pubertal male sexual behavior.
The estrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta) mediates estrogen action in the female gonads, reproductive tract, and central nervous system. In addition, in rats and mice, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH-I) neurons coexpress ERbeta. Here we asked if ERbeta plays a role in the onset of puberty and in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis function in male mice. We examined mating behavior, testosterone concentrations, steroid negative feedback on gonadotropins, and GnRH-I function in male ERbeta knockout (ERbetaKO) and wild-type (WT) mice. Peripubertal ERbetaKO males displayed their first ejaculation at a significantly older age than WT littermates. Castrated, adult ERbetaKO mice had significantly higher plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) than WT counterparts. Estradiol (E2) treatment reduced LH and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations to an equivalent degree in castrates of both genotypes. In three different measures of the adult GnRH-I system, no genotypic differences were observed. These data show that ERbeta plays an important role in the timing of male sexual behavior at puberty, but does not appear to be involved in adult HPG axis functioning. Furthermore, our data suggest that a primary role of ERbeta may be to regulate ejaculatory behavior.
Temple
Jennifer L
JL
Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892-4156, USA.
Scordalakes
Elka M
EM
Bodo
Cristian
C
Gustafsson
Jan Ake
JA
Rissman
Emilie F
EF
D000818:Animals; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000502:physiology; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone