| 1. |
- Movérare, Sofia, et al.
(author)
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Differential effects on bone of estrogen receptor alpha and androgen receptor activation in orchidectomized adult male mice.
- 2003
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In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 100:23, s. 13573-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Androgens may regulate the male skeleton either directly by stimulation of the androgen receptor (AR) or indirectly by aromatization of androgens into estrogens and, thereafter, by stimulation of the estrogen receptors (ERs). To directly compare the effect of ER activation on bone in vivo with the effect of AR activation, 9-month-old orchidectomized wild-type and ER-inactivated mice were treated with the nonaromatizable androgen 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, 17beta-estradiol, or vehicle. Both ERalpha and AR but not ERbeta activation preserved the amount of trabecular bone. ERalpha activation resulted both in a preserved thickness and number of trabeculae. In contrast, AR activation exclusively preserved the number of trabeculae, whereas the thickness of the trabeculae was unaffected. Furthermore, the effects of 17beta-estradiol could not be mediated by the AR, and the effects of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone were increased rather than decreased in ER-inactivated mice. ERalpha, but not AR or ERbeta, activation resulted in preserved thickness, volumetric density, and mechanical strength of the cortical bone. ERalpha activation increased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I, which were positively correlated with all the cortical and trabecular bone parameters that were specifically preserved by ERalpha activation but not by AR activation, suggesting that insulin-like growth factor I might mediate these effects of ERalpha activation. Thus, the in vivo bone-sparing effect of ERalpha activation is distinct from the bone-sparing effect of AR activation in adult male mice. Because these two pathways are clearly distinct from each other, one may speculate that a combined treatment of selective ER modulators and selective AR modulators might be beneficial in the treatment of osteoporosis.
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| 2. |
- Movérare-Skrtic, Sofia, et al.
(author)
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Dihydrotestosterone treatment results in obesity and altered lipid metabolism in orchidectomized mice.
- 2006
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In: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). - : Wiley. - 1930-7381 .- 1930-739X. ; 14:4, s. 662-72
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of androgen receptor (AR) activation for adipose tissue metabolism. Sex steroids are important regulators of adipose tissue metabolism in men. Androgens may regulate the adipose tissue metabolism in men either directly by stimulation of the AR or indirectly by aromatization of androgens into estrogens and, thereafter, by stimulation of the estrogen receptors. Previous studies have shown that estrogen receptor alpha stimulation results in reduced fat mass in men. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Orchidectomized mice were treated with the non-aromatizable androgen 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17beta-estradiol, or vehicle. Vo(2), Vco(2), resting metabolic rate, locomotor activity, and food consumption were measured. Furthermore, changes in hepatic gene expression were analyzed. RESULTS: DHT treatment resulted in obesity, associated with reduced energy expenditure and fat oxidation. In contrast, DHT did not affect food consumption or locomotor activity. Furthermore, DHT treatment resulted in increased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride levels associated with markedly decreased 7alpha-hydroxylase gene expression, indicating decreased bile acid production. DISCUSSION: We showed that AR activation results in obesity and altered lipid metabolism in orchidectomized mice. One may speculate that AR antagonists might be useful in the treatment of obesity in men.
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| 3. |
- Ophoff, Jill, et al.
(author)
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Physical activity in the androgen receptor knockout mouse: evidence for reversal of androgen deficiency on cancellous bone.
- 2009
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In: Biochemical and biophysical research communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 1090-2104 .- 0006-291X. ; 378:1, s. 139-44
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Disruption of the androgen receptor (AR) in male mice reduces cortical bone expansion and muscle mass during puberty and results in high bone turnover-related cancellous osteopenia. We hypothesized that voluntary wheel running during growth is able to rescue the effects of AR disruption on bone. To this end, 5-week-old AR knockout (ARKO) mice were randomized to a running group (cage with running wheel) and a sedentary group (cage without wheel) and followed-up until 16 weeks of age. Voluntary wheel running in ARKO mice did not influence body weight, muscle mass or periosteal bone expansion. Interestingly, voluntary running significantly reduced bone turnover in ARKO mice and prevented cancellous bone loss due to a preservation of trabecular number. Thus, voluntary running in ARKO mice was able to reduce cancellous bone resorption, suggesting that sustained exercise may potentially compensate the effects of androgen disruption on cancellous bone.
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| 4. |
- Svensson, Johan, 1964, et al.
(author)
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Liver-derived IGF1 enhances the androgenic response in prostate.
- 2008
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In: The Journal of endocrinology. - 1479-6805. ; 199:3, s. 489-97
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Both IGF1 and androgens are major enhancers of prostate growth and are implicated in the development of prostate hyperplasia and cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether liver-derived endocrine IGF1 modulates the androgenic response in prostate. Mice with adult, liver-specific inactivation of IGF1 (LI-IGF1(-/-) mice) displayed an approximately 80% reduction in serum IGF1 levels associated with decreased prostate weight compared with control mice (anterior prostate lobe -19%, P<0.05; dorsolateral prostate (DLP) lobe -35%, P<0.01; ventral prostate (VP) lobe -47%, P<0.01). Reduced androgen receptor (Ar) mRNA and protein levels were observed in the VP lobe (-34% and -30% respectively, both P<0.05 versus control mice). Analysis of prostate morphology showed reductions in both the glandular and fibromuscular compartments of the VP and DLP lobes that were proportional to the reductions in the weights of these lobes. Immunohistochemistry revealed reduced intracellular AR immunoreactivity in the VP and DLP lobes. The non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone increased VP weight to a lesser extent in orchidectomized (ORX) LI-IGF1(-/-) mice than in ORX controls (-40%, P<0.05 versus control mice). In conclusion, deficiency of liver-derived IGF1 reduces both the glandular and fibromuscular compartments of the prostate, decreases AR expression in prostate, and reduces the stimulatory effect of androgens on VP weight. These findings may explain, at least in part, the well-known clinical association between serum IGF1 levels and conditions with abnormal prostate growth.
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| 5. |
- Tivesten, Åsa, 1969, et al.
(author)
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Additive protective effects of estrogen and androgen treatment on trabecular bone in ovariectomized rats.
- 2004
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In: Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. - 0884-0431. ; 19:11, s. 1833-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Both ER and AR activation regulates trabecular bone mass. We show that combined estrogen and androgen treatment results in additive protection of trabecular bone in OVX rats. This may in part be attributable to the effect of AR activation to attenuate the inhibitory effect of ER activation on bone formation. INTRODUCTION: Sex steroids are important regulators of trabecular bone mass. Both estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) activation results in increased trabecular bone mass. The aim of this study was to investigate if combined estrogen and androgen treatment might be beneficial in the treatment of trabecular bone loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve-week-old female rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and treated with vehicle (V), 17beta-estradiol (E2; ER activation), dihydrotestosterone (DHT; AR activation), or the combination (E2 + DHT) for 6 weeks. The skeletal phenotype was analyzed by pQCT, microCT, histomorphometry of growth plates, and serum levels of biochemical bone markers. RESULTS: Both E2 (+121% over V) and DHT (+34%) preserved the trabecular volumetric BMD (tvBMD) in OVX rats. The effect of E2 and DHT on tvBMD was additive, resulting in a 182% increase over V in the rats given E2 + DHT. MicroCT analyses of the trabecular bone microstructure revealed that the effect of E2 and DHT was additive on the number of trabeculae. E2 treatment reduced serum markers of both bone resorption (collagen C-terminal telopeptide) and bone formation (osteocalcin), indicating reduced bone turnover. Addition of DHT to E2 treatment did not modulate the effects of E2 on the marker of bone resorption, whereas it attenuated the inhibitory effect of E2 on the bone formation marker, which might explain the additive protective effect of E2 and DHT on trabecular bone mass. In contrast, DHT partially counteracted the suppressive effect of E2 on longitudinal bone growth and the E2-induced alterations in growth plate morphology. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that combined estrogen and androgen treatment results in additive protective effects on trabecular bone in OVX rats. Our data suggest that a combined treatment with selective ER and AR modulators might be beneficial in the treatment of osteoporosis.
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| 6. |
- Venken, Katrien, et al.
(author)
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Bone and muscle protective potential of the prostate-sparing synthetic androgen 7alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone: evidence from the aged orchidectomized male rat model.
- 2005
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In: Bone. - : Elsevier BV. - 8756-3282. ; 36:4, s. 663-70
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study reports the preclinical evaluation of the bone and muscle protective potential of the synthetic androgen 7alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENTtrade mark), as assessed in the aged orchidectomized rat model. Aged (13-month-old) orchidectomized Wistar rats were treated with different doses of MENT (4, 12 or 36 microg/day) subcutaneously for 16 weeks via mini-osmotic pumps. Analysis of the effects of androgen deficiency versus MENT replacement was performed using quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and biochemical markers of bone turnover. At the end of the study period, prostate weight in orchidectomized rats treated with low- (4 microg/day) or mid-dose (12 mug/day) MENT remained significantly lower compared to the sham-operated animals (-47% and -25%, respectively). High-dose MENT (36 microg/day), on the other hand, induced prostate hypertrophy (+21% versus sham). Low-, mid- and high-dose MENT were found to be effective in suppressing the acceleration of bone remodeling following orchidectomy, as assessed by osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline. In addition, low-, mid- and high-dose were able to prevent the orchidectomy-induced bone loss, as evaluated by DEXA at the femur and total-body and by pQCT at the femur. Compared to sham-operated animals, the low- and mid-dose MENT groups showed no decline in lean body mass and no muscle atrophy (as measured by m. quadriceps weight) at 16 weeks, whereas high-dose MENT was associated with a significant decline in lean body mass (-8.5% versus sham) and quadriceps weight (-10.6%). We conclude that, in the aged orchidectomized rat model, low- and mid-doses of the synthetic androgen MENT have bone and muscle protective effects and do not induce prostate hypertrophy. The bone protective action of high-dose MENT, however, occurs at the expense of muscle wasting and prostate hypertrophy. Our findings support the need for human studies to explore the potential of MENT as an option for androgen replacement in aging men.
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| 7. |
- Venken, Katrien, et al.
(author)
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Growth without growth hormone receptor: estradiol is a major growth hormone-independent regulator of hepatic IGF-I synthesis.
- 2005
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In: Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. - 0884-0431. ; 20:12, s. 2138-49
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The role of estrogens in the regulation of pubertal growth independently of GH and its receptor was studied in male mice with disrupted GHRKO. E(2) rescued skeletal growth rates in GHRKO associated with an increase in hepatic and serum IGF-I. These data show that E(2) rescues pubertal growth during GH resistance through a novel mechanism of GHR-independent stimulation of hepatic IGF-I production. INTRODUCTION: Growth hormone (GH) and estrogen play a pivotal role in pubertal growth and bone mineral acquisition. Estrogens can affect GH secretion and thereby provide a GH-dependent mechanism for their effects on skeletal growth. It is presently unclear if or to what extent estrogens are able to regulate pubertal growth and bone mineral accrual independently of GH and its receptor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Estradiol (E(2); 0.03 mug/day by subcutaneous silastic implants) was administered to orchidectomized (ORX) male mice with disrupted GHR (GHRKO) and corresponding WTs during late puberty (6-10 weeks). Longitudinal and radial bone growth, IGF-I in serum and its expression in liver, muscle, and bone, and liver gene expression were studied by histomorphometry, RIA, RT-PCR, microarrays, and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: E(2) stimulated not only longitudinal (femur length and growth plate thickness) and radial growth (cortical thickness and periosteal perimeter), but also rescued longitudinal and periosteal growth rates in ORX GHRKO, whereas no significant changes occurred in WT. E(2) thereby upregulated serum IGF-I and liver IGF-I synthesis (+21% and +52%, respectively) in ORX GHRKO, whereas IGF-I synthesis in femur or muscle was unaffected. Study of the underlying mechanism of the stimulation of hepatic IGF-I expression showed that E(2) restored downregulated receptor signaling systems, such as the estrogen receptor alpha and the prolactin receptor. E(2) thereby recovered the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway as evidenced by a significantly increased activation of the transcription factor STAT5 in ORX GHRKO. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show a stimulation of skeletal growth through upregulation of hepatic IGF-I by a hormone other than GH. E(2) rescues pubertal skeletal growth during GH resistance through a novel mechanism of GHR-independent stimulation of IGF-I synthesis in the liver.
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| 8. |
- Venken, Katrien, et al.
(author)
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Impact of androgens, growth hormone, and IGF-I on bone and muscle in male mice during puberty.
- 2007
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In: Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. - : Wiley. - 0884-0431. ; 22:1, s. 72-82
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The interaction between androgens and GH/IGF-I was studied in male GHR gene disrupted or GHRKO and WT mice during puberty. Androgens stimulate trabecular and cortical bone modeling and increase muscle mass even in the absence of a functional GHR. GHR activation seems to be the main determinant of radial bone expansion, although GH and androgens are both necessary for optimal stimulation of periosteal growth during puberty. INTRODUCTION: Growth hormone (GH) is considered to be a major regulator of postnatal skeletal growth, whereas androgens are considered to be a key regulator of male periosteal bone expansion. Moreover, both androgens and GH are essential for the increase in muscle mass during male puberty. Deficiency or resistance to either GH or androgens impairs bone modeling and decreases muscle mass. The aim of the study was to investigate androgen action on bone and muscle during puberty in the presence and absence of a functional GH/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I axis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or testosterone (T) were administered to orchidectomized (ORX) male GH receptor gene knockout (GHRKO) and corresponding wildtype (WT) mice during late puberty (6-10 weeks of age). Trabecular and cortical bone modeling, cortical strength, body composition, IGF-I in serum, and its expression in liver, muscle, and bone were studied by histomorphometry, pQCT, DXA, radioimmunoassay and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: GH receptor (GHR) inactivation and low serum IGF-I did not affect trabecular bone modeling, because trabecular BMD, bone volume, number, width, and bone turnover were similar in GHRKO and WT mice. The normal trabecular phenotype in GHRKO mice was paralleled by a normal expression of skeletal IGF-I mRNA. ORX decreased trabecular bone volume significantly and to a similar extent in GHRKO and WT mice, whereas DHT and T administration fully prevented trabecular bone loss. Moreover, DHT and T stimulated periosteal bone formation, not only in WT (+100% and +100%, respectively, versus ORX + vehicle [V]; p < 0.05), but also in GHRKO mice (+58% and +89%, respectively, versus ORX + V; p < 0.05), initially characterized by very low periosteal growth. This stimulatory action on periosteal bone resulted in an increase in cortical thickness and occurred without any treatment effect on serum IGF-I or skeletal IGF-I expression. GHRKO mice also had reduced lean body mass and quadriceps muscle weight, along with significantly decreased IGF-I mRNA expression in quadriceps muscle. DHT and T equally stimulated muscle mass in GHRKO and WT mice, without any effect on muscle IGF-I expression. CONCLUSIONS: Androgens stimulate trabecular and cortical bone modeling and increase muscle weight independently from either systemic or local IGF-I production. GHR activation seems to be the main determinant of radial bone expansion, although GHR signaling and androgens are both necessary for optimal stimulation of periosteal growth during puberty.
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