Detection of FSH receptors in mouse and human penile tissue

Background: This study aims to investigate the expression of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors in both mouse and human penis to explore its potential impact on penis function. Methods: We utilized immunohistochemistry to detect FSH receptors in penile and testicular tissues from 12 BA...

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Main Authors: Helen Zirnask, Pasi Pöllänen, Siim Suutre, Taavi Torga, Samuel Rüsse, Liis Salumäe, Andres Kotsar, Kersti Kokk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MRE Press 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Men's Health
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Online Access:https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250428-534/pdf/JOMH2024121902.pdf
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author Helen Zirnask
Pasi Pöllänen
Siim Suutre
Taavi Torga
Samuel Rüsse
Liis Salumäe
Andres Kotsar
Kersti Kokk
author_facet Helen Zirnask
Pasi Pöllänen
Siim Suutre
Taavi Torga
Samuel Rüsse
Liis Salumäe
Andres Kotsar
Kersti Kokk
author_sort Helen Zirnask
collection DOAJ
description Background: This study aims to investigate the expression of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors in both mouse and human penis to explore its potential impact on penis function. Methods: We utilized immunohistochemistry to detect FSH receptors in penile and testicular tissues from 12 BALB/c mice, as well as penile tissues from three patients undergoing penectomy for squamous cell carcinoma. Results: Positive immunoreaction for FSH receptors was detected in tissue samples of all patients including sebaceous gland, epithelial layers, subepithelial fibroblasts, corpus cavernosum cells, walls of small blood vessels and plasma cells. However, species specificity was observed in the results, as positive immunoreaction was absent in the most of mouse penis tissue samples. Fibrocytes and mast cells in the mouse penis exhibited negligible positive immunoreaction. Conclusions: This study marks the first reported detection of FSH receptors in human penile tissue, highlighting a potential extragonadal role for FSH in penile function. While human tissues exhibited widespread receptor expression, mouse tissues showed minimal immunoreactivity, suggesting species-specific expression patterns. These preliminary findings indicate a possible regulatory role for FSH in human penile physiology, meriting further exploration in subsequent studies.
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spelling doaj-art-0ecf1d82765e4d379fd001c934ffd9e32025-08-20T03:09:39ZengMRE PressJournal of Men's Health1875-68671875-68592025-04-0121410210510.22514/jomh.2025.057S1875-6867(25)00374-4Detection of FSH receptors in mouse and human penile tissueHelen Zirnask0Pasi Pöllänen1Siim Suutre2Taavi Torga3Samuel Rüsse4Liis Salumäe5Andres Kotsar6Kersti Kokk7Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaDepartment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, FinlandDepartment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaDepartment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaDepartment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaPathology Service, Tartu University Hospital, 50406 Tartu, EstoniaDepartment of Urology, Tartu University Hospital, 50406 Tartu, EstoniaDepartment of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaBackground: This study aims to investigate the expression of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors in both mouse and human penis to explore its potential impact on penis function. Methods: We utilized immunohistochemistry to detect FSH receptors in penile and testicular tissues from 12 BALB/c mice, as well as penile tissues from three patients undergoing penectomy for squamous cell carcinoma. Results: Positive immunoreaction for FSH receptors was detected in tissue samples of all patients including sebaceous gland, epithelial layers, subepithelial fibroblasts, corpus cavernosum cells, walls of small blood vessels and plasma cells. However, species specificity was observed in the results, as positive immunoreaction was absent in the most of mouse penis tissue samples. Fibrocytes and mast cells in the mouse penis exhibited negligible positive immunoreaction. Conclusions: This study marks the first reported detection of FSH receptors in human penile tissue, highlighting a potential extragonadal role for FSH in penile function. While human tissues exhibited widespread receptor expression, mouse tissues showed minimal immunoreactivity, suggesting species-specific expression patterns. These preliminary findings indicate a possible regulatory role for FSH in human penile physiology, meriting further exploration in subsequent studies.https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250428-534/pdf/JOMH2024121902.pdffollicle-stimulating hormonefollicle-stimulating hormone receptorcorpus cavernosum penis
spellingShingle Helen Zirnask
Pasi Pöllänen
Siim Suutre
Taavi Torga
Samuel Rüsse
Liis Salumäe
Andres Kotsar
Kersti Kokk
Detection of FSH receptors in mouse and human penile tissue
Journal of Men's Health
follicle-stimulating hormone
follicle-stimulating hormone receptor
corpus cavernosum penis
title Detection of FSH receptors in mouse and human penile tissue
title_full Detection of FSH receptors in mouse and human penile tissue
title_fullStr Detection of FSH receptors in mouse and human penile tissue
title_full_unstemmed Detection of FSH receptors in mouse and human penile tissue
title_short Detection of FSH receptors in mouse and human penile tissue
title_sort detection of fsh receptors in mouse and human penile tissue
topic follicle-stimulating hormone
follicle-stimulating hormone receptor
corpus cavernosum penis
url https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250428-534/pdf/JOMH2024121902.pdf
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AT samuelrusse detectionoffshreceptorsinmouseandhumanpeniletissue
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