Expression of androgen, estrogen, and progesterone hormone receptors in the penile tissues of children with different types of hypospadias

Comparison of FGF-8, FGF-10, FGF-Receptor 2, Androgen Receptor, Estrogen Receptor-A and SS in Healthy and Hypospadiac Children

In this study, we aimed to investigate the levels of Fibroblast Growth Factor-8 (FGF-8), FGF-10, FGF-Receptor-2 (FGFR-2), Androgen receptor (AR), Estrogen receptor alpha and beta (ER-α and ER-β) in the foreskins of children with and without hypospadias.

Methods

Samples from the foreskins of 20 children with hypospadias and 20 skin samples from children without hypospadias between the ages of 14 months and 12 years were taken during circumcision or hypospadias correction surgery for immunohistochemical (IHC) examination of these markers. In IHC examination, it was shown that ER-α, ER-β and AR receptors were more involved in the foreskin of children with hypospadias than in the fore-skin of without hypospadias children, and FGF-8, FGF-10 and FGFR-2 were lower (p<0.05). ER and AR uptake were higher in hypospadias tissue samples and FGF-8, FGF-10, and FGFR-2 uptakes were lower compared to without hypospadias children's tissue samples, and these factors were supported by affecting each other in the development of hypospadias. The limited number of studies on this subject in the literature and the contradictory results of the findings indicate that more research should be done on this subject in the future.

Dysregulated expression of androgen metabolism genes and genetic analysis in hypospadias

Background

The aberrant expression of genes involved in androgen metabolism and genetic contribution are unclear in hypospadias.

Methods

We compared gene expression profiles by RNA sequencing from five non‐hypospadiac foreskins, five mild hypospadiac foreskins, and five severe hypospadiac foreskins. In addition, to identify rare coding variants with large effects on hypospadias risk, we carried out whole exome sequencing in three patients in a hypospadias family.

Results

The average expression of androgen receptor (AR) and CYP19A1 were significantly decreased in severe hypospadias (p < .01) and mild hypospadias (p < .05), whereas expression of several other androgen metabolism enzymes, including CYP3A4, HSD17B14, HSD3B7, HSD17B7, CYP11A1 were exclusively significantly expressed in severe hypospadias (p < .05). Compound rare damaging mutants of AR gene with HSD3B1 and SLC25A5 genes were identified in the different severe hypospadias.

Conclusions

In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that dysregulation of AR and CYP19A1 could play a crucial role in the development of hypospadias. Inconsistent AR expression may be caused by the feedback loop of ESR1 signaling or combined genetic effects with other risk genes. This findings complement the possible role of AR triggered mechanism in the development of hypospadias.

Effects of High-Glucose and High-Fat Condition on Estrogen Receptor- and Sexual Precocity-Related Genes in GT1-7 Cells

Background

This study was designed to investigate the effect of high-glucose and high-fat condition on estrogen receptor- and sexual precocity-related genes in GT1-7 cells.

Material/Methods

In this study, CCK8 was used to detect cell viability, and TUNEL assay was used to detect apoptosis levels of GT1-7 cells after treatment with glucosamine and palmitate. The expression level of GnRH was measured by ELISA and RT-qPCR. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of ERβ, CD36, and GPR54 in GT1-7 cells, and the expression of ERβ was detected using immunohistochemistry analysis. Finally, after adding the intervening drug tamoxifen to GT1-7 cells, the expression level of GnRH was measured by ELISA and Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of GPR54 and GnRH.

Results

GnRH secretion in the high-fat and high-glucose group increased continuously over time and peaked at 18 h, and GnRH gene expression peaked at 12 h. High-fat and high-glucose conditions also significantly increased the levels of estrogen receptors β (ERβ), fatty acid translocase protein (CD36), and G Protein-Coupled Receptors 54 (GPR54) in GT1-7 cells. After estrogen receptors β (ER) was inhibited, GnRH secretion and GPR54 expression were decreased at 12 h and 18 h.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that high-glucose and high-fat conditions promote the secretion of GnRH and ER and the expression of genes related to sexual precocity in GT1-7 cells.