Resume
Le rôle des œstrogènes dans la fonction reproductive chez le mâle est devenu plus clair dans la dernière décennie. Durant ces années, l’étude des effets de la testostérone, des œstrogènes ou d’un inhibiteur de l’aromatase chez les hommes hypogonadiques a fourni une première preuve des effets des œstrogènes sur la régulation de la sécrétion des gonadotrophines. Parallèlement, le développement d’une lignée de souris mâles transgéniques dépourvues soit du récepteur α aux œstrogènes, soit du récepteur β aux œstrogènes, soit du gène de l’aromatase, a permis d’apporter des preuves supplémentaires non seulement du rôle des œstrogènes dans la régulation de la sécrétion des gonadotrophines, mais aussi des effets des œstrogènes sur la fonction et le développement testiculaires.
Une confirmation de ces actions des œstrogènes est venue de l’observation de mutations survenant naturellement et touchant le récepteur aux œstrogènes et le gène de l’aromatase chez l’homme. A partir de ces données, on a démontré que les œstrogènes sont des régulateurs majeurs de la sécrétion des gonadotrophines en agissant à la fois aux niveaux pituitaire et hypothalamique. La présence, dans les structures reproductives de l’homme, des récepteurs α et β aux œstrogènes, et de l’aromatase indique l’existence de rôles pour ces hormones femelles à ce niveau. Quoiqui’il en soit, le rôle précis des œstrogènes dans le développement et la fonction testiculaires ainsi que dans la régulation de la spermatogénèse humaine, n’est pas à ce jour précisément élucidée.
Abstract
The role of estrogen on male reproductive function has become clearer in the last decade. During these years the study of the effect of testosterone, estrogen or an aromatase inhibitor in hypogonadal men provided a first evidence of the effects of estrogens in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion. At the same time, the development of a line of transgenic male mice lacking estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β or aromatase gene provided further evidence about the role of estrogens not only in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion, but also on the effects of estrogens on testicular function and development. A confirmation of these actions of estrogens came from the observation of naturally occurring mutations of the estrogen receptor and of the aromatase gene in human males. Based on these data it has been demonstrated that estrogens are major regulators of gonadotropin secretion acting both at pituitary and hypotalamic level. The presence in the human reproductive structures of estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β and the aromatase enzyme indicates the existence of receptor α, estrogen receptor β or aromatase estrogen actions at this level. Anyway, the precise role of estrogens in testicular development and function and on the regulation of human spermatogenesis has not yet been precisely clarified.
Article PDF
References
AQUILA S., SISCI D., GENTILE M., MIDDEA E., SICILIANO L., ANDO S.: Human ejaculated spermatozoa contain active P450 aromatase. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab., 2002, 87: 3385–3390.
BAGATELL C.J., DAHL K.D., BREMNER W.J.: The direct pituitary effect of testosterone to inhibit gonadotropin secretion in men is partially mediated by aromatization to estradiol. J. Androl., 1994, 15: 15–21.
BILEZIKIAN J.P., MORISHIMA A., BELL J., GRUMBACH M.M.: Increased bone mass as a result of estrogen therapy in a man with aromatase deficiency. N. Engl. J. Med., 1998, 339: 599–603.
CARANI C., QIN K., SIMONI M. et al.: Effect of testosterone and estradiol in a man with aromatase deficiency. N. Engl. J. Med., 1997, 337: 91–95.
CARREAU S., BOURGUIBA S., LAMBARD S. et al.: Aromatase expression in male germ cells. J. Steroid. Bioch. Mol. Biol., 2001, 79: 203–208.
COUSE J.F., KORACH K.S.: Estrogen receptor null mice: what have we learned and where will they lead us? Endocr. Rev., 1999, 20: 358–417.
DELADOEY J., FLUCK C., BEX M., YOSHIMURA N., HARADA N., MULLIS P.E.: Aromatase deficiency caused by a novel P450arom gene mutation: impact of absent estrogen production on serum gonadotropin concentration in a boy. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 1999, 84: 4050–4054.
FAUSTINI-FUSTINI M., ROCHIRA V., CARANI C.: Oestrogen deficiency in men: where are we today? Eur. J. Endocrinol., 1999, 140: 111–129.
FINKELSTEIN J.S., WHITCOMB R.W., O’DEA L.S., LONG-COPE C., SCHOENFELD D.A., CROWLEY W.F. Jr: Sex steroid control of gonadotropin secretion in the human male. I. Effect of testosterone administration in normal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone-deficient men. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 1991, 73: 609–620.
FINKELSTEIN J.S., O’DEA L.S., WHITCOMB R.W., CROWLEY W.F.: Sex steroid control of gonadotropin secretion in the human male. II. Effect of estradiol administration in normal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone-deficient men. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 1991, 73: 621–628.
FISHER C.R., GRAVES K.H., PARLOW A.F., SIMPSON E.R.: Characterization of mice deficient in aromatase (ArKO) because of targeted disruption of the cyp19 gene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 1998, 95: 6965–6970.
GRUBER C.J., TSCHUGGUEL W., SCHNEEBERGER C., HUBER J.C.: Production and actions of estrogens. N. Engl. J. Med., 2002, 346: 340–352.
HAYES F.J., SEMINARA S.B., DECRUZ S., BOEPPLE P.A., CROWLEY W.F. Jr: Aromatase inhibition in the human male reveals a hypothalamic site of estrogen feedback. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 2000, 85: 3027–3035.
HERRMAN B.L., SALLER B., JANSSEN O.E. et al.: Impact of estrogen replacement therapy in a male with congenital aromatase deficiency caused by a novel mutation in the CYP19 gene. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 2002, 87: 5476–5484.
HESS R.A., BUNICK D., LEE K.H. et al.: A role for estrogens in the male reproductive system. Nature, 1997, 390: 509–512.
JANULIS L., BAHR J.M., HESS R.A., JANSSEN S., OSAWA Y., BUNICK D.: Rat testicular germ cells and epididymal sperm contain active P450 aromatase. J. Androl., 1998, 19: 65–71.
KREGE J.H., HODGIN J.B., COUSE J.F. et al.: Generation and reproductive phenotypes of mice lacking estrogen receptor β. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 1998, 95: 15677–15682.
LEE K.H., HESS R.A., BAHR J.M., LUBAHN D.B., TAYLOR J., BUNICK D.: Estrogen receptor alpha has a functional role in the mouse rete testis and efferent ductules. Biol. Reprod., 2000, 63: 1873–1880.
LUCONI M., MURATORI M., FORTI G., BALDI E.: Identification and characterization of a novel functional estrogen receptor on human sperm membrane which interferes with progesterone effects. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab., 1999, 84: 1670–1678.
MAFFEI L., TUBERT G., ARANDA C. et al.: Effects of a new point mutation of thecyp19 gene in a male patients. Abstract Book. The 5th European Congress of Endocrinology. Turin, Italy, 2001, 9–13 June, p 96.
MORISHIMA A., GRUMBACH M.M., SIMPSON E.R., FISHER C., QIN K.: Aromatase deficiency in male and female sibling caused by a novel mutation and the physiological role of estrogens. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 1995, 80: 3689–3699.
O’DONNEL L., ROBERTSON K.M., JONES M.E., SIMPSON E.R.: Estrogen and spermatogenesis. Endocr. Rev., 2001, 22: 289–318.
RAMAN J.D., SCHLEGEL P.N.: Aromatase inhibitor for male infertility. J. Urol., 2002, 167: 624–629.
ROBERTSON K.M., O’DONNEL L., JONES M.E.E. et al.: Impairment of spermatogenesis in mice lacking a functional aromatase (cyp 19) gene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 1999, 96: 7986–7991.
ROCHIRA V., FAUSTINI-FUSTINI M., BALESTRIERI A., CARANI C.: Estrogen replacement therapy in a man with congenital aromatase deficiency: effects of different doses of transdermal estradiol on bone mineral density and hormonal parameters. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 2000, 85: 1841–1845.
ROCHIRA V., BALESTRIERI A., MADEO B. et al.: Congenital estrogen deficiency: in search of the estrogen role in human male reproduction. Mol. Cell Endocrinol., 2001, 178: 107–115.
SHARPE R.M.: Do males rely on female hormones? Nature, 1997, 390: 447–448.
SMITH E.P., BOYD J., FRANK G.R. et al.: Estrogen resistance caused by a mutation in the estrogen-receptor gene in a man. N. Engl. J. Med., 1994, 331: 1056–1061.
SULLIVAN K.A., WITKIN J.W., FERIN M., SILVERMAN A.J.: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurones in the rhesus macaque are not immunoreactive for the estrogen receptor. Brain Res., 1995, 685: 198–200.
TAKEYAMA J., SUZUKI T., INOUE S. et al.: Expression and cellular localization of estrogen receptors α and β in the human fetus. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 2001, 86: 2258–2262.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rochira, V., Fabbi, M., Valassi, E. et al. Oestrogènes et reproduction masculine. Androl. 13, 51–56 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03034409
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03034409