The role of estrogen receptors in rat Sertoli cells at different stages of development

Abstract

H] thymidine incorporation in Sertoli cells from 15-day-old rats, whereas the treatment did not have any effect in 20-day-old rats. E2 and DPN, but not PPT, increased non-phosphorylated CTNNB expression in Sertoli cells from 20-day-old rats. This upregulation was blocked by ESR2-selective antagonist PHTPP. The activation of ESR1 and ESR2, respectively, plays a role in the proliferation and differentiation of Sertoli cells in a critical period of testicular development. Furthermore, in Sertoli cells from 20-day-old rats, upregulation of non-phosphorylated CTNNB by E2/ESR2, via c-SRC/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT, may play a role in the interaction between Sertoli cells and/or in cell-germ cell adhesion and/or in the stabilization and accumulation of CTNNB in the cytosol. CTNNB could be translocated to the nucleus and modulate the transcriptional activity of specific target genes. The present study reinforces the important role of estrogen in normal testis development.