title: Androgenic and antiandrogenic effects and expression of androgen receptor in mouse embryonic stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of androgen and antiandrogen and the expression of androgen receptor on mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and the inner cell mass.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blastocysts from mice developed at the Institute for Cancer Research and 129/Sv mice embryonic stem cell line.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured mouse ESCs were exposed to testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or the antiandrogen nilutamide.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry for androgen receptor (AR), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, cell colorimetric assays, and Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Androgen receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) was first detected both in the inner cell mass from blastocysts and in undifferentiated ESCs. It increased stage-dependently during ESC differentiation. Although both T and DHT had marginal effects on AR mRNA expression level and cell growth in vitro, the nonsteroidal antiandrogen nilutamide significantly stimulated ESC growth and induced Akt expression. The enhancing effects of nilutamide on mouse ESCs indicated that the Akt pathway may be involved in nilutamide-promoted ESC growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide the first evidence of the existence of AR in ESCs. During differentiation, the expression level of AR was increased in a stage-dependent but not a ligand-dependent manner. Nilutamide promoted cell growth and increased Akt expression in ESCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yan-Der
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Hsuuw
authors.forename: Fu-Jen
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chih-Rong
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Shyr
authors.forename: Shiuh-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chiung-Kuei
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hong-Yo
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ko-En
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048289:Imidazolidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D048289:Imidazolidines; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; C021277:nilutamide