Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Differentiation. 2020 Dec 13;118:41–71. doi: 10.1016/j.diff.2020.11.004

Table 4.

Early puberty and adult androgen and estrogen receptors in the human, rat and mouse male reproductive system

Tissue Receptor Presence1 Species Type of Study1 References
Whole testis ESR + Human Receptor binding (Murphy et al., 1980)
ESR1 + Human mRNA (Denger et al., 2001)
+ Mouse mRNA (Jefferson et al., 2000)
ESR2 + Human mRNA (Denger et al., 2001; Saunders et al., 2002)
Sertoli cell AR +++ Human IM (Iwamura et al., 1994; Kimura et al., 1993; Pelletier, 2000)
++ Rat mRNA (Kumar et al., 2018)
++/+++ Rat Stage-dependent (Bremner et al., 1994; Figueiredo et al., 2016; O’Hara and Smith, 2015; Oliveira et al., 2003; Pelletier, 2000; Pilutin et al., 2014; Suarez-Quian et al., 1996; Takeda et al., 1990; Tan et al., 2005; Turner et al., 2001; Vornberger et al., 1994; Williams et al., 2001a; Zhu et al., 2000)
+++ Mouse Stage-dependent (Krutskikh et al., 2011; Schauwaers et al., 2007; Smith et al., 2015; Welsh et al., 2010; Zhou et al., 2002; Zhou et al., 1996)
ESR1 − Human IM (Fietz et al., 2014; Mäkinen et al., 2001; Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000; Saunders et al., 2001; Saunders et al., 2003)
− Rat mRNA (Kumar et al., 2018; Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
++ Rat mRNA (Lucas et al., 2008)
++ Rat IM (Lucas et al., 2008; Menad et al., 2017; Mizuno et al., 2011)
− Rat IM (Gur and Aktas, 2020; Pilutin et al., 2014)
− Mouse IM (Cooke et al., 2017; Jensen, 2014; Zhou et al., 2002)
ESR2 ++/− Human IM (Fietz et al., 2014; Gibson and Saunders, 2012; Mäkinen et al., 2001; Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000; Saunders et al., 2002; Saunders et al., 2003)
+/++ Rat IM (Lucas et al., 2008; Oliveira et al., 2003; Pilutin et al., 2014; Turner et al., 2001; van Pelt et al., 1999)
+ Rat mRNA (Kumar et al., 2018; Lucas et al., 2008)
− Rat IM (Gur and Aktas, 2020; Menad et al., 2017)
++ Mouse IM (Cooke et al., 2017; De Gendt et al., 2004; Zhou et al., 2002)
− Mouse IM (Jensen, 2014)
Germ cells/sperm AR ++ Human IM (Kimura et al., 1993)
− Human IM (Iwamura et al., 1994)
− Rat IM (O’Hara and Smith, 2015; Oliveira et al., 2003; Takeda et al., 1990)
+ Rat IM Spermatids (Suarez-Quian et al., 1996; Vornberger et al., 1994)
− Mouse IM (Zhou et al., 2002)
++ Mouse IM Spermatogonia (Zhou et al., 1996)
ESR1 − Human IM (Mäkinen et al., 2001; Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000; Saunders et al., 2001; Saunders et al., 2003)
++/− Human IM (Fietz et al., 2016; Fietz et al., 2014)
+ Human mRNA sperm (Lambard et al., 2004)
++ Rat IM Spermatids (Gur and Aktas, 2020; Huang et al., 2016; Lucas et al., 2008; Menad et al., 2017; Mizuno et al., 2011; Pilutin et al., 2014)
+/− Rat Germ cell mRNA (Kumar et al., 2018; Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
− Mouse IM (Cooke et al., 2017; Zhou et al., 2002)
+++ Mouse spermatids (Jensen, 2014)
ESR2 ++ Human IM Germ cell specific (Fietz et al., 2016; Fietz et al., 2014; Gibson and Saunders, 2012; Mäkinen et al., 2001; Saunders et al., 2002; Saunders et al., 2001; Saunders et al., 2003)
+ Human mRNA sperm (Lambard et al., 2004)
− Human IM (Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000)
− Rat IM (Gur and Aktas, 2020; Pilutin et al., 2014)
+/+++ Rat IM (Menad et al., 2017; Oliveira et al., 2003; Turner et al., 2001; van Pelt et al., 1999)
+/− Rat mRNA (Kumar et al., 2018; Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
++ Mouse IM (Bilinska et al., 2003; Cooke et al., 2017; Huang et al., 2016; Jensen, 2014; Zhou et al., 2002)
Leydig cells AR +++/+ Human IM (Iwamura et al., 1994; Kimura et al., 1993; Pelletier, 2000)
+/− Rat IM (Suarez-Quian et al., 1996)
++/+ Rat IM (Figueiredo et al., 2016; O’Hara and Smith, 2015; Oliveira et al., 2003; Pelletier, 2000; Pilutin et al., 2014; Takeda et al., 1990; Tan et al., 2005; Turner et al., 2001; Vornberger et al., 1994; Williams et al., 2001a; Zhu et al., 2000)
+++/++ Mouse IM (De Gendt et al., 2004; Krutskikh et al., 2011; Schauwaers et al., 2007; Smith et al., 2015; Welsh et al., 2009; Welsh et al., 2010; Zhou et al., 2002; Zhou et al., 1996)
ESR1 − Human IM (Fietz et al., 2016; Fietz et al., 2014; Mäkinen et al., 2001; Saunders et al., 2001; Saunders et al., 2003)
− Human mRNA (Fietz et al., 2016; Fietz et al., 2014)
+ Human IM (Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000)
+++ Rat IM (Bremner et al., 1994; Fisher et al., 1997; Gur and Aktas, 2020; Lucas et al., 2008; Menad et al., 2017; Mizuno et al., 2011; Oliveira et al., 2003; Pilutin et al., 2014)
++ Rat mRNA (Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
+++ Mouse IM (Bilinska et al., 2003; Cooke et al., 2017; Zhou et al., 2002)
− Mouse IM (Jensen, 2014)
ESR2 − Human IM (Mäkinen et al., 2001; Saunders et al., 2002)
+ Human IM (Gibson and Saunders, 2012; Saunders et al., 2003)
+ Rat IM (Bilinska et al., 2003; Gur and Aktas, 2020; Menad et al., 2017; Pilutin et al., 2014)
− Rat IM (van Pelt et al., 1999)
+/− Rat IM (Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
+++/− Mouse IM (Bilinska et al., 2003; Cooke et al., 2017; Jensen, 2014; Zhou et al., 2002)
Peritubular myoid AR +++ Human IM (Kimura et al., 1993; Pelletier, 2000)
− Human IM (Iwamura et al., 1994)
+++/+ Rat IM (Bremner et al., 1994; Figueiredo et al., 2016; O’Hara and Smith, 2015; Oliveira et al., 2003; Pelletier, 2000; Pilutin et al., 2014; Suarez-Quian et al., 1996; Takeda et al., 1990; Tan et al., 2005; Turner et al., 2001; Vornberger et al., 1994; Williams et al., 2001a; Zhu et al., 2000)
+++ Mouse IM (De Gendt et al., 2004; Schauwaers et al., 2007; Smith et al., 2015; Welsh et al., 2009; Welsh et al., 2010; Zhou et al., 2002; Zhou et al., 1996)
ESR1 − Human IM (Fietz et al., 2014; Mäkinen et al., 2001; Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000; Saunders et al., 2001; Saunders et al., 2003)
++ Rat IM (Gur and Aktas, 2020; Lucas et al., 2008; Oliveira et al., 2003)
+++ Mouse IM (Cooke et al., 2017; Zhou et al., 2002)
− Mouse IM (Bilinska et al., 2003)
ESR2 − Human IM (Fietz et al., 2014; Mäkinen et al., 2001)
+/++ Human IM (Saunders et al., 2002; Saunders et al., 2003)
+/− Rat IM (Gur and Aktas, 2020; Oliveira et al., 2003; Pilutin et al., 2014; van Pelt et al., 1999)
+/− Mouse IM (Cooke et al., 2017; Zhou et al., 2002)
Rete testis AR ++ Human IM (Iwamura et al., 1994)
++ Rat IM (Figueiredo et al., 2016; Williams et al., 2001a)
ESR1 − Human IM (Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000)
++/+ Rat IM Epithelium ++/+; stroma +/− (Fisher et al., 1997; Hess et al., 1997b)
ESR2 + Human IM (Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000)
Efferent ducts AR −/+ Human IM Epithelium proximal − ; near epididymis + (Ungefroren et al., 1997)
+++ Rat IM Epithelium +++; smooth muscle +++ (Oliveira et al., 2004; Rivas et al., 2002; Williams et al., 2001a; Williams et al., 2000)
+++ Mouse IM (O’Hara et al., 2011; Zhou et al., 2002)
ESR +++ Mouse Receptor binding (Schleicher et al., 1984)
ESR1 +++/− Human IM Epithelium V nonciliated +++, ciliated cells − (Rago et al., 2018; Saunders et al., 2001; Sullivan et al., 2019)
+++/+ Human IM Epithelium nonciliated +++, ciliated + (Ergun et al., 1997)
+++ Human mRNA (Légaré and Sullivan, 2020)
+++ Rat IM Epithelium +++; smooth muscle ++/− (Atanassova et al., 2001; Chen et al., 1998; Fisher et al., 1997; Hess et al., 2011; Hess et al., 1997b; Oliveira et al., 2004; Oliveira et al., 2003)
+++ Rat mRNA Epithelium +++; stroma +/− (Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
+++ Mouse IM Epithelium +++; stroma − (Arao et al., 2012; Cho et al., 2003; Cooke et al., 2017; Hoshii et al., 2007; Joseph et al., 2011; Lee et al., 2008; O’Hara et al., 2011; Zhou et al., 2002)
+++ Mouse mRNA (Yao et al., 2017)
ESR2 +++/− Human IM Epithelium +++; stroma +/− (Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000; Rago et al., 2018; Saunders et al., 2001)
+++ Rat IM Epithelium +++; smooth muscle ++ (Oliveira et al., 2004; Oliveira et al., 2003)
− Rat IM Epithelium −; stroma − (Yamashita, 2004)
− Rat IM Epithelium −; stroma − (Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
+++ Mouse IM Epithelium +++; stroma −/+ (Arao et al., 2012; Cho et al., 2003; Cooke et al., 2017; Lee et al., 2008; Zhou et al., 2002)
− Mouse IM Epithelium −; stroma − (Yamashita, 2004)
Epididymis AR +++ Human IM Epithelium caput, corpus +++; cauda + (Pelletier, 2000; Ungefroren et al., 1997)
+++ Rat IM Epithelium +++; stroma −/+ (Menad et al., 2014; Takeda et al., 1990; Williams et al., 2001a; You and Sar, 1998; Zhu et al., 2000)
+++ Mouse IM Epithelium +++; stroma + (O’Hara et al., 2011; O’Hara and Smith, 2016; Zhou et al., 2002)
ESR ++ Human Receptor binding (Murphy et al., 1980)
++ Mouse Receptor binding: apical, basal, clear cells (Schleicher et al., 1984)
ESR1 ++ Human mRNA caput ++; cauda + (Légaré and Sullivan, 2020)
−/+ Human IM Epithelium (Saunders et al., 2001)
− Human IM Epithelium (Ergun et al., 1997; Sullivan et al., 2019)
+ Human IM Epithelium +; stroma (Rago et al., 2018)
+ Human IM Epithelium caput +; cauda − (Kolasa et al., 2003)
++/− Rat IM Epithelium caput ++/−; cauda +/−; stroma − (Fisher et al., 1997; Gur and Aktas, 2020; Hess et al., 1997b; Kolasa et al., 2003; Menad et al., 2014; Sar and Welsch, 2000; Williams et al., 2000)
− Rat IM Epithelium −; stroma − (Atanassova et al., 2005 a; Atanassova et al., 2001; Yamashita, 2004)
++ Rat mRNA Caput (Shayu et al., 2007)
+ Rat mRNA whole epididymis (Jefferson et al., 2000)
+ Mouse mRNA Epithelium+; stroma + (Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
+/+++/− Mouse IM Epithelium Region specific principal cell ++/−; apical, basal cells, clear cells +++; stroma − (Cooke et al., 2017; Hess et al., 2011; Hoshii et al., 2007; Jensen, 2014; Joseph et al., 2011; O’Hara et al., 2011; Yamashita, 2004; Zhou et al., 2002)
ESR2 +++ Human IM Epithelium +++; stroma ++ (Saunders et al., 2001)
+ Human IM Epithelium caput +; cauda −; stroma − (Kolasa et al., 2003; Pelletier and El-Alfy, 2000)
++ Rat IM Epithelium ++; stroma +/− (Menad et al., 2014; Williams et al., 2000)
+/− Rat IM Epithelium +/−; stroma − (Gur and Aktas, 2020; Yamashita, 2004)
− Rat IM Epithelium caput −; cauda −; stroma + (Kolasa et al., 2003)
− Rat mRNA Epithelium −; stroma + (Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
++ Rat mRNA caput (Shayu et al., 2007)
+++ Mouse IM Epithelium +++; stroma − (Cooke et al., 2017; Jensen, 2014; Zhou et al., 2002)
+/− Mouse IM Epithelium +/−; stroma − (Yamashita, 2004)
−/+ Mouse mRNA (Jefferson et al., 2000)
Vas deferens AR +++ Rat IM Epithelium +++; stroma +/− (Atanassova et al., 2005 a; Yamashita, 2004)
++ Mouse IM (Yamashita, 2004; Zhou et al., 2002)
ESR1 − Rat IM Epithelium −; stroma −/+ (Atanassova et al., 2005 a; Atanassova et al., 2001; Hess et al., 1997b; Williams et al., 2000; Yamashita, 2004)
− Rat mRNA Epithelium −; stroma ++ (Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
− Mouse IM Epithelium −; stroma +++/− (Yamashita, 2004; Zhou et al., 2002)
ESR2 ++/− Human IM Epithelium (Scobie et al., 2002)
+ Rat IM Epithelium +; stroma +/− (Yamashita, 2004)
− Rat mRNA Epithelium −; stroma + (Mowa and Iwanaga, 2001)
−/+ Mouse mRNA (Jefferson et al., 2000)
+/− Mouse IM Epithelium +/−; stroma +/− (Yamashita, 2004; Zhou et al., 2002)
1

Estimate of expression. Immunohistochemistry (IM) unless otherwise indicated; mRNA can be isolated RNA or insitu hybridization; Receptor binding can be autoradiography or biochemical assay binding; PND, postnatal day; mo, months