Conditional expression of constitutively active estrogen receptor α in chondrocytes impairs longitudinal bone growth in mice

Estrogen plays important roles in the regulation of chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, which are essential steps for longitudinal bone growth; however, the mechanisms of estrogen action on chondrocytes have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we generated conditional transgenic mice, designated as caERαColII, expressing constitutively active mutant estrogen receptor (ER) α in chondrocytes, using the chondrocyte-specific type II collagen promoter-driven Cre transgenic mice. caERαColII mice showed retardation in longitudinal growth, with short bone lengths. BrdU labeling showed reduced proliferation of hypertrophic chondrocytes in the proliferating layer of the growth plate of tibia in caERαColII mice. In situ hybridization analysis of type X collagen revealed that the maturation of hypertrophic chondrocytes was impaired in caERαColII mice. These results suggest that ERα is a critical regulator of chondrocyte proliferation and maturation during skeletal development, mediating longitudinal bone growth in vivo.

► Conditional transgenic mice expressing constitutively active estrogen receptor α (caERα) in chondrocytes were developed.
► Expression of caERα in chondrocytes impaired longitudinal bone growth in mice.
► caERα affects chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation.
► This mouse model is useful for understanding the physiological role of ERα in vivo.