FARNESOID X RECEPTOR AND REPRODUCTION

Abstract

Farnesoid X alpha receptors (FXR? or NR1H4) are present in male and female reproductive tissues. The aim of the present review is to describe those actions of the most relevant ligands of FXR? on reproduction and the interaction of this receptor with other nuclear receptors, for understanding the possible role of FXR? in reproductive events. Thus, although the relevance of the FXR? on reproduction is widely unknown, its endogenous ligands like farnesol, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), and cholate acid (CA) participate in proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and steroidogenesis in reproductive tissues. In these tissues FXR? modulates estrogen and androgen actions. Since FXR? is stretched related to other nuclear receptors, also present in reproductive tissues, such as the liver X receptors (LXR), peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor (PPAR), liver receptors homolog-1 (LRH-1), small heterodimer partner (SHP), and dosage-sensitive sex reversal (DAX1), the FXR? actions on reproductive tissues might be directly or indirectly mediated by its interaction with these nuclear receptors.