Altered Expression and Localization of Estrogen Receptors Alpha and Beta in the Testes of a Cryptorchid Rat Model

Spermatogenesis in cryptorchid rats is disrupted. Because the expression of ERbeta was unchanged in both control and cryptorchid testes, we supposed that alteration in ERalpha levels is more closely related to spermatogenic failure than ERbeta levels in the cryptorchid testes. We considered that increased expression of ERalpha in Leydig cells of cryptorchid testes is associated with estradiol level in the testicular tissue, and androgen-estrogen imbalance deteriorates spermatogenesis in cryptorchidism.