雌激素对睾丸发育及生精功能的影响

Effects of Estrogen on Testicular Development and Spermatogenesis

雌激素与睾丸的功能密切相关。人和哺乳动物体内雌激素的合成需芳香化酶(Ar)的参与,而雌激素与特异受体(ERα、ERβ)结合后才发挥生物学效应。在睾丸所有发育阶段,芳香化酶和雌激素受体几乎都有表达。在睾丸发育过程中,雌激素的缺乏对胎儿睾丸的发育有利。但对成年动物来说,大剂量的雌激素可以引起睾丸功能紊乱和生精障碍,而体外条件下小剂量的雌激素又能促进精原细胞的分裂、增生和分化,诱导精子发生和精子成熟,减少细胞凋亡。文章主要从睾丸内雌激素的来源、芳香化酶和雌激素受体的分布、雌激素对胎儿和新生儿睾丸发育以及对精子发生的影响这几个方面进行了综述。

Estrogen plays an essential role in regulating testicular function. Estrogen receptors and aromatase are present at all developmental stages of the testis in many mammalian species. The deficiency of estrogen is helpful for the testicular development during the fetal peroid. But in the adult peroid,large dose of estrogen would result in testicular function disorders and dyszoospermia. In vitro, small dose of estrogen could induce spermatogonium to proliferate and differentiate, promote spermatogenesis, reduce apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. This review discussed the secretion of estrogen,the expression of aromatase and estrogen receptors in the testis and the effects of estrogen on fetal and neonatal testicular development and spermatogenesis. Also, further research questions about estrogen regulating the function of testis were raised.