Sex-specific response of rat costochondral cartilage growth plate chondrocytes to 17β-estradiol involves differential regulation of plasma membrane associated estrogen receptors

► Sex specific membrane responses of rat chondrocytes to E2 are estrogen receptor α and β dependent. ► Female chondrocytes expressed more ERα and ERβ on the membrane and caveolae fraction than male. ► Male chondrocytes showed no membrane-response to E2, but had the same active downstream pathway. ► Palmitoylation of the membrane receptors might contribute to their sex-specific responses to E2.