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The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 86, No. 5 2258-2262
Copyright © 2001 by The Endocrine Society

Original Studies

Expression and Cellular Localization of Estrogen Receptors {alpha} and ß in the Human Fetus1

Junji Takeyama, Takashi Suzuki, Satoshi Inoue, Chika Kaneko, Hiroshi Nagura, Nobuhiro Harada and Hironobu Sasano

Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine (J.T., T.S., C.K. H.N., H.S.), Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tokyo University (S.I.), Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; and Division of Molecular Genetics, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University (N.H.), Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Junji Takeyama, Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan. E-mail: j-takeyama{at}patholo2.med.tohoku.ac.jp

Estrogens exert various biological effects by acting through their native receptors, two of which have been identified to date: estrogen receptors {alpha} (ER{alpha}) and ß (ERß). In this study we examined the expression and cellular localization of ER{alpha} and ERß in various human fetal tissues by semiquantitative RT-PCR (13 and 20 gestational weeks) and immunohistochemistry (13, 20, and 38 gestational weeks), respectively, to study the possible effects of estrogens on human fetal tissues during development. Relatively high levels of ERß expression were detected in various human fetal tissues, whereas those tissues expressing ERß had markedly lower levels of ER{alpha} expression. ERß messenger ribonucleic acid expression was especially high in the adrenal gland. ERß-immunoreactive protein was localized to the definitive zone, but not in the fetal zone, of the adrenal cortex. Although low levels of ERß messenger ribonucleic acid were present in the brain, heart, lung, and kidney, ERß immunoreactivity was not detected in these tissues. These results suggest that the effects of estrogens in these tissues are predominantly mediated through ERß. ERß immunoreactivity was detected in Sertoli cells and spermatogonia in the male reproductive tract and in germ cells in the fetal testis and epididymis. In the female reproductive tract, both ER{alpha} and ERß were immunopositive in epithelium of the oviduct. The results of the present study have demonstrated the possible sites for estrogenic action in the human fetus and suggest that the effects of estrogen via ERß may play important roles in human fetal development, especially in the definitive zone of the adrenal cortex, and in the reproductive tissues of the developing fetus.




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