GPER signaling in spermatogenesis and testicular tumors

Adele Chimento, Rosa Sirianni, Ivan Casaburi, Vincenzo Pezzi

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Estrogens play important roles in the regulation of testis development and spermatogenesis. Moreover, several evidences suggest that estrogen signaling can be involved in testicular tumorigenesis. The physiological effects of estrogen are mediated by the classical nuclear estrogen receptors ESR1 and 2, which regulate both genomic and rapid signaling events. In the recent years, a member of the seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor family, GPR30 (GPER), has been identified to promote estrogen action in target cells including testicular cells. Ours and other studies reported that GPER is expressed in normal germ cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids), somatic cells (Sertoli and Leydig cells), and it is also involved in mediating estrogen action during spermatogenesis and testis development. In addition, GPER seems to be involved in modulating estrogen-dependent testicular cancer cell growth. However, in this context, the effects of GPER stimulation on cell survival and proliferation appear to be cell type specific. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the functions regulated by estrogens and mediated by GPER in normal and tumor testicular cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberArticle 30
JournalFrontiers in Endocrinology
Volume5
Issue numberMAR
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Estrogen receptors
  • GPER
  • Germ cells
  • Spermatogenesis
  • Testicular tumors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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