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Sex Differences in Intestinal Epithelial Crypt Cell Proliferation
Author(s) -
Zhou Weinan,
Suriyavirun Natcha,
Dailey Megan J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.878.2
Subject(s) - crypt , biology , cell growth , estrogen , estrogen receptor , endocrinology , stem cell , medicine , epithelium , hormone , receptor , intestinal epithelium , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , biochemistry , breast cancer , genetics
The intestinal epithelium plays an essential role in ingestive behaviors and immune homeostasis. The epithelium is continually renewed every few days by the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells located in the intestinal crypts. Studies have shown that the luminal nutrient content drives changes in the stem cell proliferative process, but it is unknown whether there are male‐female differences in these nutrient‐driven changes. To determine whether sex differences affect crypt cell proliferation, we utilized primary small intestinal epithelial crypts isolated from male and female C57BL/6J mice to investigate the differences in the gene expression of steroid hormone receptors, crypt cell proliferation, and crypt cell proliferation in response to steroid hormones. We found that estrogen receptor α was expressed in crypts from both male and female mice, while estrogen receptor β, androgen receptor, and progesterone receptor were not expressed in crypts from either sex. Crypt cell proliferation was higher in crypts isolated from female mice compared with crypts isolated form male mice, however, 17β‐Estradiol had no effect on crypt cell proliferation in either sex. These results suggest that sex differences may influence crypt cell proliferation, but these differences may not be driven by steroid hormones. Support or Funding Information USDA Hatch ILLU‐538‐926