Aromatase is abundantly expressed by neonatal rat penis but downregulated in adulthood.

@article{Jesmin2004AromataseIA,
  title={Aromatase is abundantly expressed by neonatal rat penis but downregulated in adulthood.},
  author={Subrina Jesmin and Chishimba Nathan Mowa and Ichiro Sakuma and Naoyuki Matsuda and Hiroko Togashi and Mitsuhiro Yoshioka and Yuichi Hattori and Akira Kitabatake},
  journal={Journal of molecular endocrinology},
  year={2004},
  volume={33 2},
  pages={
          343-59
        }
}
Although synthesis of estrogen by male gonads has been well documented for over half a century, it is only recently that the role of estrogen in male reproductive events has gained appreciation. We recently reported abundant expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and -beta in different cell types of the rat penis, whose levels diminished with advancing age. The present study, which builds on data from the ER study, was designed to determine whether the penis is capable of generating its own… 
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Background Citations
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Methods Citations
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25 Citations

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It is demonstrated that formation of the urethal orifice and internal prepuce is due to fusion of separate epithelial‐surfaced mesenchymal elements, a process dependent upon both androgen and estrogen signaling, in which ERβ signaling is strongly implicated.
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Estrogen receptor alpha mediates estrogen-inducible abnormalities in the developing penis.
TLDR
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Role of estrogen in induction of penile dysmorphogenesis: a review.
TLDR
It is hypothesized that neonatal estrogen exposure, via an ER-mediated pathway (direct action) or an AR- mediated pathway (indirect action through decreased testosterone and up-regulation of estrogen receptor alpha) or both pathways, up-regulates ER alpha expression in stromal cells of the penis, which are then reprogrammed such that their differentiation into smooth muscle cells is inhibited and their differentiated into adipocytes is stimulated.
Expression of steroidogenic enzymes and synthesis of sex steroid hormones from DHEA in skeletal muscle of rats.
TLDR
These findings are novel and important in that they provide the first evidence showing that skeletal muscles are capable of locally synthesizing sex steroid hormones from circulating DHEA or testosterone in cultured muscle cells in a dose-dependent manner.
A critical role for estrogen signaling in penis development
TLDR
It is demonstrated that both androgen and estrogen signaling are intrinsically required for normal urethral closure and confirmed that penis development is not an entirely androgen‐driven process but one in which endogenous estrogen signaling also plays a critical role.
Normal Morphology and Hormone Receptor Expression in the Male California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) Genital Tract
TLDR
This is the first study to localize ER α and PR to the epithelium of the glans penis and suggest that estrogens could have a role in the function of the male reproductive tract.
Estrogen enhances wound healing in the penis of rats.
TLDR
It is concluded that estrogen plays a role in maintaining glans penis integrity, in part, by facilitating penile healing, possibly via up-regulating VEGF levels.
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