Estrogen receptor specificity in the regulation of skeletal growth and maturation in male mice.

• Androgens may regulate the male skeleton directly through a stimulation of androgen receptors or indirectly through aromatization of androgens into estrogen and, thereafter, through stimulation of estrogen receptors (ERs). The relative importance of ER subtypes in the regulation of the male skeleton was studied in ERalpha-knockout (ERKO), ERbeta-knockout (BERKO), and double ERalpha/beta-knockout (DERKO) mice. ERKO and DERKO, but not BERKO, demonstrated decreased longitudinal as well as radial skeletal growth associated with decreased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I. Therefore, ERalpha, but not ERbeta, mediates important effects of estrogen in the skeleton of male mice during growth and maturation.

Keyword

Animals

Bone Density

Bone Development

genetics

physiology

Estrogen Receptor alpha

Estrogen Receptor beta

Female

Genotype

Growth Plate

growth & development

Heterozygote

Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

metabolism

Male

Mice

Mice

Inbred C57BL

Mice

Knockout

Receptors

Estrogen

deficiency

genetics

physiology

Sex Characteristics

Tibia

growth & development

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)