| First Author | Karolczak M | Year | 1998 |
| Journal | Neuroendocrinology | Volume | 68 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 229-34 |
| PubMed ID | 9772337 | Mgi Jnum | J:50754 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1309692 | Doi | 10.1159/000054370 |
| Citation | Karolczak M, et al. (1998) Developmental sex differences in estrogen receptor-beta mRNA expression in the mouse hypothalamus/preoptic region. Neuroendocrinology 68(4):229-34 |
| abstractText | Estrogens play a significant role during mammalian brain development and are required for the masculinization of neuronal circuits involved in sex-specific behaviors and neuroendocrine functions. Cellular estrogen signalling is transmitted through nuclear estrogen receptors (ER) which are divided into two subforms: the ER-alpha as well as the recently cloned ER-beta have been demonstrated in the hypothalamus. In the present study, we have analyzed the sex-specific expression of ER-beta mRNA in the pre- and postnatal mouse hypothalamus/preoptic region (Hyp/POA) by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The ER-beta mRNA was detectable as early as embryonic day (E) 15 in the diencephalon of both sexes. In males, levels of mRNA expression in the Hyp/POA increased until birth and remained high throughout postnatal (P) development, whereas in females, such an increase was not observed. Significantly higher mRNA levels were detected in the male Hyp/POA from E17 until P15. Perinatal sex differences in ER-beta mRNA expression coincide with higher estrogen-forming rates in the male Hyp/POA. At present, no direct evidence is available which demonstrates that estrogen signalling through ER-beta is involved in brain development. However, data from our and other studies suggest a potential role for this signal transduction pathway for brain differentiation. |
