Effects of the Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ERα) in the Endocrine Pancreas

Estrogens and their estrogen receptors are emerging as important molecules for maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. The endocrine pancreas, in particular the islets of Langerhans, is a key tissue to regulate blood glucose levels. Our group has demonstrated in the last few years that estrogens and endocrine disruptors regulate the function of the islet of Langerhans. Only 4 days of treatment of male mice with low closes of either 17 beta-estradiol (E2) or bisphenol-A (BPA) are able to produce insulin resistance. This is accompanied by an increase in beta-cell insulin content and insulin secretion. The treatment in vitro of isolated islets with physiological doses of E2 or environmentally relevant doses of BPA for 48h, produces an increase in insulin content as well as in insulin secretion in response to glucose.