The role of estrogen receptors in the control of energy and glucose homeostasis

• Published in: Steroids Vol. 73; no. 9; pp. 874 - 879
• Main Authors: Ropero, Ana B., Alonso-Magdalena, Paloma, Quesada, Ivan, Nadal, Angel
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2008; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bisphenol-A; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Diabetes; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine disruptors; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Estrogen Receptor alpha - metabolism; Estrogen Receptor beta - metabolism; Estrogens; Estrogens - metabolism; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucose - metabolism; Glucose Transporter Type 4 - metabolism; Insulin-Secreting Cells - metabolism; Islet of Langerhans; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Metabolic diseases; Metabolic syndrome; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Miscellaneous; Models, Biological; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Other metabolic disorders; Pancreas - metabolism; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Endocrine disruptors; Diabetes; Islet of Langerhans; Bisphenol-A; Metabolic syndrome; Estrogens; Endocrinopathy; Estrogen receptor; Diabetes mellitus; Langerhans islet; Estrogen; Homeostasis; Metabolic diseases; Cardiovascular disease; Endocrine disruptor; Glucose; Ovarian hormone; Sex steroid hormone; Endocrine pancreas
• ISSN: 0039-128X; 1878-5867
• DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2007.12.018

Estrogens have been related to energy balance and glucose metabolism for a long time; however, the mechanisms involved in their actions are now being unveiled. The development of ERα and ERβ knockout mice has demonstrated the participation of these receptors in the regulation of many processes related to the control of energy homeostasis. These include food intake and energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity in the liver and muscle, adipocyte growth and its body distribution as well as the pancreatic β-cell function. In addition, other membrane receptors unrelated to ERα and ERβ function in key tissues involved in energy balance and glucose homeostasis, i.e. the islet of Langerhans and the hypothalamus. Along with naturally occurring estrogens, there are endocrine disrupters that act as environmental estrogens and can impair the physiological action of ERα, ERβ and other membrane ERs. New research is revealing a link between environmental estrogenic pollutants and the metabolic syndrome.