Carreau Serge, Bouraima-Lelong Helene, Delalande Christelle
University Caen Basse Normandie; Caen, France.
Spermatogenesis. 2011 Apr;1(2):90-94. doi: 10.4161/spmg.1.2.16766.
The biosynthesis of steroids and the production of spermatozoa are two major functions of the mammalian testis which are tightly controlled by gonadotropins and numerous locally produced factors. Among these are the estrogens that are produced within the seminiferous epithelium via the irreversible transformation of androgens (C19) into estrogens (C18) by aromatase. We have recently reported that male germ cells are the new source of estrogens in the testis. For instance, estrogen receptors (ER) are found mainly in spermatids that give rise to spermatozoa. Moreover, it is noteworthy that GPR 30 (a transmembrane ER) induces rapid responses after estradiol binding, which, in turn, modulates cyclins and proapoptotic factors (e.g., BAX) to affect germ cell cycle progression and apoptosis. In summary, at least in the animal species that were studied thus far, germ cells are the major source and the target of estrogens, affecting normal male gonadal development and spermatogenesis, in particular spermiogenesis. These findings have also shed new light on the possible adverse effects of endocrine disruptors having estrogenic activities that can cause abnormal development of the male genital tract.
类固醇的生物合成和精子的产生是哺乳动物睾丸的两个主要功能，它们受到促性腺激素和众多局部产生的因子的严格控制。其中包括通过芳香化酶将雄激素（C19）不可逆地转化为雌激素（C18）而在生精上皮内产生的雌激素。我们最近报道，雄性生殖细胞是睾丸中雌激素的新来源。例如，雌激素受体（ER）主要存在于产生精子的精子细胞中。此外，值得注意的是，GPR 30（一种跨膜ER）在雌二醇结合后会诱导快速反应，进而调节细胞周期蛋白和促凋亡因子（如BAX），以影响生殖细胞周期进程和凋亡。总之，至少在迄今为止研究的动物物种中，生殖细胞是雌激素的主要来源和靶标，影响正常雄性性腺发育和精子发生，尤其是精子形成。这些发现也为具有雌激素活性的内分泌干扰物可能导致男性生殖道异常发育的潜在不良影响提供了新的线索。
