Potential role of estrogen in regulation of the Insulin-like growth factor2–H19 locus in the rat testis

The faah gene is the first direct target of estrogen in the testis: role of histone demethylase LSD1

“…DNA cytosine methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is the most abundant and catalytically active DNA methyltransferase, and is able to induce covalent addition of a methyl group to the 5 0 position of cytosine, predominantly within CpG dinucleotides, which are generally localized in promoter regions [40]. More recently, the interaction between DNMT1 and ERb has been demonstrated in the testis, suggesting that E 2 signaling could control DNA methylation [8]. On this background, we analyzed the DNA methylation in the faah promoter and we observed a dramatic demethylation of the CpG island located in the proximal region after E 2 treatment.…”

“…Samples were permeabilized with 0.1 % Triton X-100 for 5 min and incubated for 1 h in 0.5 % bovine serum albumin (BSA). Samples were then washed with PBS and incubated for 2 h at room temperature with antibodies against LSD1 (1:300) and WT1 (Abcam), followed by 1 h of incubation with Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-rabbit (1:300; Invitrogen) and Alexa Fluor 555 goat anti-mouse (1:300; Invitrogen) [8].…”

“…Although some putative direct target genes of E 2 have been found in the testis [7][8][9], up to now the identification of a testicular cell-specific ER responsive promoter has not been reported. In this investigation, we identified fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) as a direct target gene of E 2 in mouse Sertoli cells.…”

Sex Steroids in Insects and the Role of the Endosymbiont Wolbachia:A New Perspective

“…Measuring levels of acetylation and methylation of histones in neonatal mouse brains, Tsai and colleagues (2009) found that H3 histone modification is sexually dimorphic in some areas of the neonatal brain, and prenatal testosterone interacts with H3 acetylation to reverse this dimorphism. In another study, tamoxifen -a selective estrogen receptor modulator -has been shown to interfere with imprinting at the specific locus Insulin-like growth factor 2/H19 in rat spermatozoa (Pathak et al, 2010). Since imprint at this locus is acquired during spermatogenesis in the male germ line, a role for estrogen signalling in the methylation dynamics of the testis is hypothesized.…”

Semen samples showing an increased rate of spermatozoa with imprinting errors have a negligible effect in the outcome of assisted reproduction techniques

“…DNA methylation is subject to alterations that could be caused by genetic factors (variations in the DNA sequence of factors involved in the methylation establishment or maintenance), [5][6][7] intrauterine environment, 8 toxin exposure, 9 hormone treatment 10,11 and diet. 12 Some authors have related the presence of imprinting errors in newborns to the application of assisted reproduction techniques (ART).…”