Detailed definition
Estrogen receptors are the molecular machinery through which estrogen produces its biological effects. The two nuclear receptors, ERα and ERβ, are ligand-activated transcription factors that, upon binding estradiol, dimerize, translocate to the nucleus, and modulate transcription of estrogen-response-element-containing genes. They are also involved in non-genomic signaling at the cell membrane. GPER (formerly GPR30) is a seven-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor that mediates rapid (seconds to minutes) effects of estrogen including vasodilation and certain neural responses. Tissue distributions and effects of ERα, ERβ, and GPER differ — explaining why estrogen has tissue-specific effects and why SERMs can have agonist-or-antagonist behavior depending on tissue.
Why it matters in menopause
Understanding that estrogen acts through multiple receptor subtypes with different distributions explains why blanket statements about "estrogen good" or "estrogen bad" are oversimplifications. The same hormone produces favorable, neutral, or unfavorable effects in different tissues based on receptor balance.
Related terms
Sources
External references: Wikipedia.