Estrogen receptor alpha signaling in extrahypothalamic neurons during late puberty decreases bone size and strength in female but not in male mice

Na Ri Kim, Ferran Jardí, Rougin Khalil, Leen Antonio, Dieter Schollaert, Ludo Deboel, G. Harry van Lenthe, Brigitte Decallonne, Geert Carmeliet, Jan Åke Gustafsson, Frank Claessens, Claes Ohlsson, Marie K. Lagerquist, Vanessa Dubois, Dirk Vanderschueren

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sexually dimorphic bone structure emerges largely during puberty. Sex steroids are critical for peak bone mass acquisition in both genders. In particular, the biphasic effects of estrogens mediate the skeletal sexual dimorphism. However, so far the stimulatory vs inhibitory actions of estrogens on bone mass are not fully explained by direct effects on bone cells. Recently, it has become evident that there is possible neuroendocrine action of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) on the skeleton. Based on these considerations, we hypothesized that neuronal ERα-signaling may contribute to the skeletal growth during puberty. Here, we generated mice with tamoxifen-inducible Thy1-Cre mediated ERα inactivation during late puberty specifically in extrahypothalamic neurons (N-ERαKO). Inactivation of neuronal ERα did not alter the body weight in males, whereas N-ERαKO females exhibited a higher body weight and increased body and bone length compared to their control littermates at 16 weeks of age. Ex vivo microCT analysis showed increased radial bone expansion of the midshaft femur in female N-ERαKO along with higher serum levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 as well as IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-3. Furthermore, the 3-point bending test revealed increased bone strength in female N-ERαKO. In contrast, inactivation of neuronal ERα had no major effect on bone growth in males. In conclusion, we demonstrate that central ERα-signaling limits longitudinal bone growth and radial bone expansion specifically in females potentially by interacting with the GH/IGF-1 axis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7118-7126
Number of pages9
JournalFASEB Journal
Volume34
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2020

Keywords

  • GH/IGF-1
  • neuroendocrine bone axis
  • puberty
  • sex steroids
  • skeletal sexual dimorphism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Sexual Maturation/genetics
  • Male
  • Sex Characteristics
  • X-Ray Microtomography
  • Bone Development/genetics
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Bone and Bones/anatomy & histology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Neurons/metabolism
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Bone Density/genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha/deficiency

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biotechnology

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