Estrogen receptors mediate rapid activation of phospholipase C pathway in the rat endometrium

The aim of the present study was to investigate the activation of rapid signaling events by 17β-estradiol in the rat uterus. 17β-Estradiol induced a rapid increase of total [³H]-inositol phosphate accumulation in the whole uterus and endometrium, but not in the myometrium. The effect of 17β-estradiol in the endometrium was blocked by phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor (U73122), estrogen receptors antagonist (ICI 182,780), exportin CRM1 inhibitor (leptomycin B) and selective inhibitor of the SRC family of protein tyrosine kinases (PP2). Furthermore, a selective agonist of ESR1 (PPT) and a selective agonist of GPER (G-1) also induced a rapid increase of total [³H]-inositol phosphate accumulation in the endometrium. The G-1 effects were blocked by GPER antagonist (G-15). 17β-Estradiol and G-1 promoted an additive effect on total [³H]-inositol phosphate accumulation. In conclusion, the present results indicate that a rapid activation of the PLC-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis occurred in the rat endometrium after 17β-estradiol stimulation, and this effect was mediated by ESR1 that underwent nuclear export after hormone stimulation, and that GPER activation may play an additive role for this response. These rapid actions might be one of the key steps that mediate the estrogen-dependent activation of cellular events in the endometrium.     

Developmental changes of FSH-R, LH-R, ER-beta and GnRH-I expression in the ovary of prepubertal ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Normal ovarian development is dependent on stimulation of the gonadotropic hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), as well as some regulatory factors locally produced in ovary, e.g. 17beta-estradiol (E2) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), mediated by their respective receptors. In order to elucidate the potential roles of LH, FSH, E2 and GnRH-I during early follicular development in prepubertal ducks, mRNA expression of LH-R, FSH-R, ER-β and GnRH-I in ovaries of 1-day-old (D1), 30-day-old (D30), 60-day-old (D60) and 90-day-old (D90) ducks was measured with semi-quantitative RT-PCR using β-actin as an internal standard. The ovary index (the ratio of ovary weight/body mass) did not change from D30 to D90, while the ovary weight and serum E2 levels rose progressively, indicating the prepubertal development of the ovary. Ovarian expression of FSH-R, LH-R, ER-β and GnRH-I mRNA changed greatly during this period. Abundance of FSH-R and ER-β mRNA went up gradually from D1 to D60, followed by a decline on D90. LH-R and GnRH-I mRNA expression increased from D1 to D90, reaching a peak at D90. These results indicate that the developing ovary is highly responsive to the regulation of FSH during the early stage, while close to the onset of sexual maturation, the ovary is likely more responsive to LH. In addition, the expression of GnRH-I and ER-β mRNA in the ovary suggest that GnRH-I and E2 are involved in the regulation of prepubertal follicular development in the ovary of ducks.     

雌激素在肺组织中的作用机制概述

在妇女中,哮喘、慢性阻塞性肺病(COPD)、囊肿性纤维化(CF)等肺部疾病发病率不断增加。大量实验研究表明,女性肺部、气管疾病患者的病情随着女性生理周期存在波动,因此,在体内雌激素和孕激素含量变化可能与肺部疾病的病情轻重存在一定的关系。雌激素包括三类:雌三醇、雌二醇、雌酮,性激素主要与他们的特异性受体结合发挥作用:雌激素受体(ERα、ERβ),孕激素受体(PR-A、PRB),和雄激素受体(AR)。雄激素受体只有哺乳动物生殖腺中有表达;雌激素受体和孕激素受体不仅在哺乳动物雌性、雄性生殖腺中有表达,在乳腺、骨、心肌、肺和脑等组织器官中均有表达。临床实验数据已经表明,男女肺部疾病发病率存在明显差异,本文主要对雌激素与肺组织之间关系作一简要综述。     

卵泡刺激素和雌激素对培养的鸡胚卵巢生殖细胞增殖的影响

在动物体内多种激素共同调控着卵巢生殖细胞的生长、发育和成熟,其中促性腺激素起着至关重要的作用。本实验建立了鸡胚(18日胚龄)卵巢构建生殖细胞和体细胞的共培养模型,并研究卵泡刺激素(FSH)、17B雌二醇(E2)以及二者联合处理对生殖细胞增殖的影响。结果发现FSH(0．25-1．0IU／mL)、E2(10-1000ng／mL)处理48h后均可显著促进生殖细胞的增殖,FSH与E2共同处理作用更加显著且高于其单独处理组,表明FSH和E2可协同刺激鸡胚卵巢生殖细胞的增殖,FSH可能是通过促进雌激素或其受体的合成而发挥作用。     

CAR and PXR: the xenobiotic-sensing receptors

The xenobiotic receptors CAR and PXR constitute two important members of the NR1I nuclear receptor family. They function as sensors of toxic byproducts derived from endogenous metabolism and of exogenous chemicals, in order to enhance their elimination. This unique function of CAR and PXR sets them apart from the steroid hormone receptors. In contrast, the steroid receptors, exemplified by the estrogen receptor (ER) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), are the sensors that tightly monitor and respond to changes in circulating steroid hormone levels to maintain body homeostasis. This divergence of the chemical- and steroid-sensing functions has evolved to ensure the fidelity of the steroid hormone endocrine regulation while allowing development of metabolic elimination pathways for xenobiotics. The development of the xenobiotic receptors CAR and PXR also reflect the increasing complexity of metabolism in higher organisms, which necessitate novel mechanisms for handling and eliminating metabolic by-products and foreign compounds from the body. The purpose of this review is to discuss similarities and differences between the xenobiotic receptors CAR and PXR with the prototypical steroid hormone receptors ER and GR. Interesting differences in structure explain in part the divergence in function and activation mechanisms of CAR/PXR from ER/GR. In addition, the physiological roles of CAR and PXR will be reviewed, with discussion of interactions of CAR and PXR with endocrine signaling pathways.     

利用雌激素构建小鼠淋病奈瑟菌感染模型

目的探讨用雌激素构建淋病奈瑟菌感染小鼠模型的方法。方法淋病奈瑟菌WHO-A接种经皮下注射苯甲酸雌二醇和真皮下埋植尼尔雌醇片（雌三醇）预处理的雌性ICR小鼠,小鼠阴道拭子接种T-M选择培养基培养分离淋病奈瑟菌,取小鼠阴道分泌物涂片染色观察淋病奈瑟菌感染情况,比较两种雌激素对小鼠淋病奈瑟菌感染的差异。结果与对照组相比,苯甲酸雌二醇小鼠体内淋病奈瑟菌有短时间的定植,而尼尔雌醇组与对照组无差异。结论雌激素（尤其是雌二醇）有利于淋病奈瑟菌在小鼠阴道内的定植。     

Estrogen enhances uptake of amyloid beta-protein by microglia derived from the human cortex

In recent years, inflammatory mechanisms have been increasingly appreciated as important steps in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are two pathological defects in AD: chronic inflammation and impaired clearance of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta). In the periphery, estrogen both increases macrophage phagocytosis and has antiinflammatory effects. If estrogen had a similar effect in the CNS, it could reverse inflammatory defects in AD. Although microglia are a key component of the immune system and help clear Abeta deposits in the AD brain, little is known about the effects of estrogen on CNS microglia. Therefore, we sought to determine the relationship between estrogen treatment and internalization of Abeta by microglia by quantifying the internalization of aggregated Abeta by human cortical microglia. Abeta uptake was found to be dose- and time-dependent in cultured microglia. Increased Abeta uptake was observed at 1.5 and 24 h after addition of aggregated Abeta (50, 100, or 1,000 nM: Abeta), and this uptake was enhanced by pretreatment with estrogen. The expression of estrogen receptor (ER) beta (ER-beta) was also up-regulated by estrogen treatment. Cells cotreated with ICI 182,780, an ER antagonist, showed significantly reduced internalization of Abeta in cultured microglia. These results indicate that microglia express an ER-beta but that the effect of estrogen on enhancing clearance of Abeta may be related to the receptor-independent action of estrogen or to nonclassical ER effects of estrogen. Thus, stimulation of the ER might contribute to the therapeutic action of estrogen in the treatment of AD.