Estrogen receptor alpha is a major contributor to estrogen-mediated fetal testis dysgenesis and cryptorchidism.
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.
Department of Genetic Medicine and Development University of Geneva Medical School 1, rue Michel-Servet, CH 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Christopher R
CR
Cederroth
Olivier
O
Schaad
Patrick
P
Descombes
Pierre
P
Chambon
Jean-Dominique
JD
Vassalli
Serge
S
Nef
D000818:Animals; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000633:toxicity; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006059:Gonadal Dysgenesis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008954:Models, Biological; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol