title: Estrogen receptor signaling during vertebrate development.
abstract: Estrogen receptors are expressed and their cognate ligands produced in all vertebrates, indicative of important and conserved functions. Through evolution estrogen has been involved in controlling reproduction, affecting both the development of reproductive organs and reproductive behavior. This review broadly describes the synthesis of estrogens and the expression patterns of aromatase and the estrogen receptors, in relation to estrogen functions in the developing fetus and child. We focus on the role of estrogens for the development of reproductive tissues, as well as non-reproductive effects on the developing brain. We collate data from human, rodent, bird and fish studies and highlight common and species-specific effects of estrogen signaling on fetal development. Morphological malformations originating from perturbed estrogen signaling in estrogen receptor and aromatase knockout mice are discussed, as well as the clinical manifestations of rare estrogen receptor alpha and aromatase gene mutations in humans. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear receptors in animal development.
authors: Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: mbondessonbolin@uh.edu.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Bondesson
authors: Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; DuPont Haskell Global Centers for Health and Environmental Sciences, Newark, DE, USA.
authors: Ruixin
authors: R
authors: Hao
authors: Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Chin-Yo
authors: CY
authors: Lin
authors: Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX, USA.
authors: Cecilia
authors: C
authors: Williams
authors: Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, TX, USA; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14183 Huddinge, Sweden.
authors: Jan-Åke
authors: JÅ
authors: Gustafsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D006728:Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
keywords: Aromatase; Estrogen; Estrogen receptor; Reproductive development; Sex differentiation; Vertebrate development