title: Expression of estrogen receptors α and β in paratesticular tissues in boys operated on for unilateral cryptorchidism between the 1st and 4th years of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in paratesticular tissues in a group of boys with and without cryptorchidism, and evaluation of karyotypes, localization, morphology and the major length of the undescended testes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty boys (1-4 years old) with unilateral cryptorchidism were evaluated. Fifty healthy boys within the same age range, with inguinal hernia, served as a control group. Measurements concerning expression of ERalpha ERbeta receptors were preformed using monoclonal mouse antibodies against human receptor alpha and beta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the mesothelial layer, the expression of ERalpha was higher in the patients group with undescended testes and it was statistically significant (p=0.04). There was no difference in the expression of ERbeta in this layer between groups. In the stromal cell layer there was statistically significant higher expression of ERbeta (p<0.05) in the group of patients with undescended testes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no difference between expressions of ERalpha in stromal cell layer. In the endothelial layer there was no difference in expression of ERalpha and ERbeta. In the smooth muscle layer there was no expression of ERalpha in either group. The expression of ERbeta in the smooth muscle layer was nearly identical in both groups. Undescended testes were generally found in the superficial inguinal pouch (n=46). The major lengths of the undescended testes were smaller in comparison to the testes positioned normally. In 9 of the cases the testes had different shape, and turgor deficit, and epididymides were smaller, dysplastic and separated from the testis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. ahermanowicz@wp.pl
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hermanowicz
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matuszczak
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Debek
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dzienis-Koronkiewicz
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komarowska
authors.forename: Marzanna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oksiuta
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalewska
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milewski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta