Aromatase, Estrogen and Male Reproduction: a Review

Abstract

The mammalian testis is both an endocrine and an exocrine gland. In addition to gonadotropins and testosterone, estrogens are found in male gonads. Estrogens regulate male gonadal functions. Estrogens perform their functions together with estrogen receptors. Estrogens participate in functions such as pubertal growth and spermatogenesis in men. The aromatase enzyme, a product of the CYP19 gene, is important in the conversion of androgens to estrogens. Aromatase is present in Leydig cells, pachytene spermatocytes, and round spermatids in the testis. Factors such as TGFβ1, TNF-α, and TH have been shown to have a negative effect on aromatase. P450 aromatase deficiency leads to disorders such as high testosterone, infertility, shrinkage and testicular weight, decreased ejaculation, and sperm motility in men. In cases such as oligospermia that develops due to the increase in serum estrogen levels, it has been observed that the level of testosterone increases by using estrogen inhibitors. In this review, changes in male gonads in aromatase deficiency and factors affecting aromatase are stated. As a result, it has been shown that aromatase expressed in the testis is important for male gonad development and spermatogenesis.

Keywords

• Aromatase(CYP19),
• infertility
• estrogen
• testis

Abstract

Memeli testisi hem endokrin hem ekzokrin bir bez özelliğindedir. Gonadotropinler ve testosteronun yanı sıra östrojenlerde erkek gonadlarda bulunmaktadır. Östrojenlerde erkek gonadal fonksiyonları düzenlemektedirler. Östrojenler fonksiyonlarını östrojen reseptörleriyle birlikte gösterirler. Östrojenler erkekte pubertal büyüme ve spermatogenezis gibi fonksiyonlara katılırlar. CYP19 geninin ürünü olan aromataz enzimi androjenlerin östrojenlere dönüşümünde önemlidir. Aromataz testiste Leydig hücreleri, pakiten spermatositlerde ve yuvarlak spermatidlerde mevcuttur. TGFβ1, TNF-α ve TH gibi faktörlerin aromataz üzerine negatif etkisi olduğu gösterilmiştir. P450 aromataz eksikliği erkeklerde yüksek testosteron, infertilite, testiste küçülme ve testis ağırlığında azalma, ejakulasyonda azalma ve sperm hareketliliğinde azalma gibi bozukluklara yol açmaktadır. Serum östrojen seviyesinin artmasına bağlı olarak gelişen oligospermi gibi durumlarda ise östrojen inhibitörleri kullanarak testosteron seviyesinin arttığı görülmüştür. Bu derleme ile aromataz eksikliğinde erkek gonadlarda meydana gelen değişiklikler ve aromataz üzerinde etkili olan faktörler belirtilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, testiste ifade edilen aromatazın erkek gonad gelişimi ve spermatogenezis için önemli olduğu gösterilmiştir.

Keywords

• Aromataz (CYP 19)
• İnfertilite
• Östrojen
• Testis

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