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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reprod Biol / Hormonal status of male reproductive system: androgens and e...
Reproductive biology2006; 6 Suppl 1; 43-58;

Hormonal status of male reproductive system: androgens and estrogens in the testis and epididymis. In vivo and in vitro approaches.

Abstract: The purpose of this article was to summarize our results on the role of androgens and estrogens in human, rodent and equine testes and epididymides, in both, physiological and patological conditions, obtained in the space of the Solicited Project (084/PO6/2002) financially supported by the State Committee for Scientific Research during the last three years. Testosterone produced by Leydig cells of the testes is clearly the major androgen in the circulation of men and adult males of most mammalian species. However, androgen metabolites make up a significant fraction of total circulating steroids. Moreover, androgen metabolism may proceed to amplify the action of testosterone through its conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or its aromatization to estradiol. The distribution of androgen and estrogen receptors (ARs and ERs) within male reproductive tissues is important because of their crucial role in mediating androgen and/or estrogen action. Attempts were undertaken to discuss not only the role of aromatase and ERs in mediating the action of estrogens in the male, but also the importance of DHT in hormonal regulation of the epididymis. In the latter, alterations caused by finasteride treatment and lead-induced oxidative stress are described. Male reproductive function of the testis and epididymis reflected by the alterations in enzymatic activity, distribution of steroid hormone receptors, differences in steroid hormone levels and altered gene expression of antioxidant enzymes are also discussed.
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Publication Date: 2006-09-13 PubMed ID: 16967089
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This article investigates the role of androgens and estrogens, particularly testosterone, in the male reproductive system, focusing on the human, rodent and equine testes and epididymides, under both normal and pathological conditions. It also explores how hormone levels, altered gene expressions, and changes in enzymatic activity affect male reproductive function.

Androgens and Estrogens in Male Reproductive System

  • The authors summarize their findings on the functioning of androgens and estrogens in the testes and epididymides. These are two critical components of the male reproductive system in humans, rodents, and equines.
  • The main focus is on testosterone, an androgen produced by Leydig cells in the testes, which is the dominant androgen in circulation in men and adult male mammals. This hormone, along with its metabolites, forms a significant proportion of the total circulating steroids in these species.

Metabolism and Action of Androgens

  • The study highlights that androgen metabolism can amplify the effect of testosterone by transforming it into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or estradiol through a process called aromatization.
  • The distribution of androgen and estrogen receptors (ARs and ERs) in male reproductive tissues is significant because these receptors mediate the action of androgens and estrogens.

Role of Aromatase, ERs, and DHT in Hormonal Regulation

  • The authors discuss the role of the enzyme aromatase and ERs in controlling the action of estrogens in males.
  • The importance of DHT in the hormonal regulation of the epididymis, a tube that connects the testes to the vas deferens, is also discussed.
  • The study examines changes in the epididymis caused by finasteride treatment and lead-induced oxidative stress.

Male Reproductive Function Reflected by Alterations

  • The researchers also look at how changes in enzymatic activity, differences in steroid hormone levels, the distribution of steroid hormone receptors, and altered expression of genes related to antioxidant enzymes all reflect the male reproductive function of the testis and epididymis.

Cite This Article

APA
Bilińska B, Wiszniewska B, Kosiniak-Kamysz K, Kotula-Balak M, Gancarczyk M, Hejmej A, Sadowska J, Marchlewicz M, Kolasa A, Wenda-Rózewicka L. (2006). Hormonal status of male reproductive system: androgens and estrogens in the testis and epididymis. In vivo and in vitro approaches. Reprod Biol, 6 Suppl 1, 43-58.

Publication

Reproductive biology
ISSN: 1642-431X
NlmUniqueID: 101160559
Country: Poland
Language: English
Volume: 6 Suppl 1
Pages: 43-58

Researcher Affiliations

Bilińska, Barbara
  • Laboratory of Endocrinology and Tissue Culture, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, 30-060 Krakow, Poland. bbili@zuk.iz.uj.edu.pl
Wiszniewska, Barbara
    Kosiniak-Kamysz, Kazimierz
      Kotula-Balak, Małgorzata
        Gancarczyk, Monika
          Hejmej, Anna
            Sadowska, Jolanta
              Marchlewicz, Mariola
                Kolasa, Agnieszka
                  Wenda-Rózewicka, Lidia

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Androgens / metabolism
                    • Animals
                    • Cryptorchidism
                    • Epididymis / metabolism
                    • Estrogens / metabolism
                    • Estrogens / physiology
                    • Humans
                    • Male
                    • Mutation
                    • Receptors, Estrogen / physiology
                    • Receptors, LH / physiology
                    • Testis / metabolism

                    Citations

                    This article has been cited 6 times.
                    1. Wang H, Kumar TR. Segment- and cell-specific expression of D-type cyclins in the postnatal mouse epididymis. Gene Expr Patterns 2012 Mar-Apr;12(3-4):136-44.
                      doi: 10.1016/j.gep.2012.01.003pubmed: 22289519google scholar: lookup
                    2. Nantia EA, Travert C, Manfo FP, Carreau S, Monsees TK, Moundipa PF. Effects of the methanol extract of Basella alba L (Basellaceae) on steroid production in Leydig cells. Int J Mol Sci 2011 Jan 14;12(1):376-84.
                      doi: 10.3390/ijms12010376pubmed: 21339992google scholar: lookup
                    3. Caballero J, Frenette G, Sullivan R. Post testicular sperm maturational changes in the bull: important role of the epididymosomes and prostasomes. Vet Med Int 2010 Oct 13;2011:757194.
                      doi: 10.4061/2011/757194pubmed: 20981306google scholar: lookup
                    4. Lin CY, Lin MT, Cheng RT, Chen SH. Testosterone depletion by castration may protect mice from heat-induced multiple organ damage and lethality. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010;2010:485306.
                      doi: 10.1155/2010/485306pubmed: 20396666google scholar: lookup
                    5. Lee MN, Lee SH, Lee MY, Kim YH, Park JH, Ryu JM, Yun SP, Lee YJ, Kim MO, Park K, Han HJ. Effect of dihydrotestosterone on mouse embryonic stem cells exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative stress. J Vet Sci 2008 Sep;9(3):247-56.
                      doi: 10.4142/jvs.2008.9.3.247pubmed: 18716444google scholar: lookup
                    6. Chen Y, Dai T, Gao J, Feng X. Sex-specific associations of blood lead and cadmium levels with sarcopenia in US adults. Sci Rep 2025 Aug 1;15(1):28121.
                      doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-13823-5pubmed: 40750827google scholar: lookup
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