Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Reproductive Sciences, and Physiology, Center for Studies in Reproduction, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Endocrine. 2011 Feb;39(1):75-82. doi: 10.1007/s12020-010-9414-5.
Expression of the molecules that modulate the synthesis and action of estrogen in, or reflect function of, Sertoli cells was determined in the fetal testis of baboons in which estrogen levels were suppressed in the second half of gestation to determine whether this may account for the previously reported alteration in fetal testis germ cell development. P-450 aromatase, estrogen receptor (ER) β, and α-inhibin protein assessed by immunocytochemistry was abundantly expressed in Sertoli cells of the fetal baboon testis, but unaltered in baboons in which estrogen levels were suppressed by letrozole administration. Moreover, P-450 aromatase and ERα and β mRNA levels, assessed by real-time RT-PCR, were similar in germ/Sertoli cells and interstitial cells isolated from the fetal testis of untreated and letrozole-treated baboons. These results indicate that expression of the proteins that modulate the formation and action of estrogen in, and function of, Sertoli cells is not responsible for the changes in germ cell development in the fetal testis of estrogen-deprived baboons.
表达分子调节合成和作用的雌激素，或反映功能的支持细胞，在胎儿睾丸狒狒中被确定，其中雌激素水平在妊娠后半期被抑制，以确定这是否可以解释先前报道的胎儿睾丸生殖细胞发育的改变。通过免疫细胞化学评估的 P-450 芳香酶、雌激素受体 (ER)β 和α-抑制素蛋白在胎儿狒狒睾丸的支持细胞中大量表达，但在通过来曲唑给药抑制雌激素水平的狒狒中未改变。此外，通过实时 RT-PCR 评估的 P-450 芳香酶和 ERα 和β mRNA 水平在未处理和来曲唑处理的狒狒胎儿睾丸的生殖/支持细胞和间质细胞中相似。这些结果表明，调节雌激素在支持细胞中的形成和作用以及支持细胞功能的蛋白质的表达，与雌激素剥夺的狒狒胎儿睾丸中生殖细胞发育的变化无关。
