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Expression of oestrogen receptors ( GPER , ESR 1, ESR 2) in human ductuli efferentes and proximal epididymis
Author(s) -
Rago V.,
Romeo F.,
Giordano F.,
Malivindi R.,
Pezzi V.,
Casaburi I.,
Carpino A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.947
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2047-2927
pISSN - 2047-2919
DOI - 10.1111/andr.12443
Subject(s) - gper , epididymis , receptor , biology , rete testis , medicine , western blot , endocrinology , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , estrogen receptor , biochemistry , immunology , sperm , gene , genetics , cancer , breast cancer
Summary Oestrogen targeting in the human genital ducts is still not well‐known. In fact, to date, the localization of oestrogen receptors, ESR 1 and ESR 2, is controversial and the presence of the membrane oestrogen receptor GPER (G protein‐coupled oestrogen receptor) is unexplored. This study has investigated the expression of GPER , ESR 1, ESR 2 in human ductuli efferentes and proximal caput epididymis by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the presence of PELP 1 (proline–glutamic acid–leucine‐rich protein 1), a co‐regulator of the oestrogen receptors, was also evaluated. In ductuli efferentes, GPER and ESR 1 were clearly localized in all epithelial cells, while ESR 2 was evidenced only in ciliated cells. Conversely, the epithelial cells of proximal caput epididymis revealed moderate GPER immunoreactivity, the absence of ERS 1 and the occasional presence of ESR 2. Furthermore, PELP 1 was observed in ciliated cells of ductuli efferentes and in principal cells of proximal caput epididymis. Therefore, this study firstly demonstrated the expression of GPER in human male genital ducts, revealing a new mediator of oestrogen action in these anatomical sites. ESR 1 and ESR 2 were differentially localized in the two genital tracts together with PELP 1, but cell sites of ER s and their co‐regulator were not homogeneous. So, a different regional/cellular association of GPER with the classical oestrogen receptors was highlighted, suggesting that oestrogen action could be mediated by GPER , ESR 1, ESR 2 in ductuli efferentes, while by GPER and, occasionally by ESR 2, in proximal caput epididymis. This study suggests that the specific oestrogen‐mediated functions in human genital ducts might result from the different local interactions of oestrogens with oestrogen receptors and their co‐regulators.