Estrogen receptor-beta inhibits skeletal growth and has the capacity to mediate growth plate fusion in female mice

To determine the long-term role of ERbeta in the regulation of longitudinal bone growth, appendicular and axial skeletal growth was followed and compared in female ERbeta(-/-), ERalpha(-/-), and ERalpha(-/-)beta(-/-) mice. Our results show that ERbeta inhibits appendicular and axial skeletal growth and has the capacity to induce fusion of the growth plates.