scholarly journals The Distribution of Cells Containing Estrogen Receptor-α (ERα) and ERβ Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in the Preoptic Area and Hypothalamus of the Sheep: Comparison of Males and Females

Endocrinology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 141 (8) ◽  
pp. 2951-2962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Scott ◽  
Alan J. Tilbrook ◽  
Donna M. Simmons ◽  
John A. Rawson ◽  
Simon Chu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Paraventricular Nucleus ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Preoptic Area ◽  
Estrogen Receptor Α ◽  
Lateral Septum ◽  
Ventromedial Nucleus ◽  
Arcuate Nuclei ◽  
Silver Grains

We have used in situ hybridization to compare the distributions of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and ERβ messenger RNA (mRNA)-containing cells in the preoptic area and hypothalamus of ewes and rams. Perfusion-fixed brain tissue was collected from luteal phase ewes and intact rams (n = 4) during the breeding season. Matched pairs of sections were hybridized with sheep-specific, 35S-labeled riboprobes, and semiquantitative image analysis was performed on emulsion-dipped slides. A number of sex differences were observed, with females having a greater density of labeled cells than males (P < 0.001) and a greater number of silver grains per cell (P < 0.01) in the ventromedial nucleus for both ER subtypes. In addition, in the retrochiasmatic area, males had a greater (P < 0.05) cell density for ERα mRNA-containing cells than females, whereas in the paraventricular nucleus, females had a greater density (P < 0.05) of ERα mRNA-containing cells than males. There was a trend (P = 0.068) in the arcuate nucleus for males to have a greater number of silver grains per cell labeled for ERα mRNA. In both sexes, there was considerable overlap in the distributions of ERα and ERβ mRNA-containing cells, but the density of labeled cells within each nucleus differed in a number of instances. Nuclei that contained a higher (P < 0.001) density of ERα than ERβ mRNA-containing cells included the preoptic area, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and ventromedial nucleus, whereas the subfornical organ (P < 0.001), paraventricular nucleus (males only, P < 0.05), and retrochiasmatic nucleus (females only, P < 0.05) had a greater density of ERα than ERβ mRNA-containing cells. The anterior hypothalamic area and supraoptic nucleus had similar densities of cells containing both ER subtypes. The lateral septum and arcuate nucleus contained only ERα, whereas only ERβ mRNA-containing cells were seen in the zona incerta. The sex differences in the populations of ER mRNA-containing cells in the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei may explain in part the sex differences in the neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to localized estrogen treatment in these nuclei. Within sexes, the differences between the distributions of ERα and ERβ mRNA-containing cells may reflect differential regulation of the actions of estrogen in the sheep hypothalamus. Low levels of ERβ mRNA in the preoptic area and ventromedial and arcuate nuclei, regions known to be important for the regulation of reproduction, suggest that ERβ may not be involved in these functions.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in Epigenetic Regulation of the Estrogen Receptor-α Promoter within the Developing Preoptic Area

Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (5) ◽  
pp. 2297-2305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph R. Kurian ◽  
Kristin M. Olesen ◽  
Anthony P. Auger
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Preoptic Area ◽  
Estrogen Receptor Α ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Brain And Behavior ◽  
Maternal Interaction ◽  
Methylation Patterns ◽  
The Brain

Sex differences in the brain are largely organized by a testicular hormone surge that occurs in males shortly after birth. Although this hormone surge is transient, sex differences in brain and behavior are lasting. Here we describe a sex difference in DNA methylation of the estrogen receptor-α (ERα) promoter region within the developing rat preoptic area, with males exhibiting more DNA methylation within the ERα promoter than females. More importantly, we report that simulating maternal grooming, a form of maternal interaction that is sexually dimorphic with males experiencing more than females during the neonatal period, effectively masculinizes female ERα promoter methylation and gene expression. This suggests natural variations in maternal care that are directed differentially at males vs. females can influence sex differences in the brain by creating sexually dimorphic DNA methylation patterns. We also find that the early estradiol exposure may contribute to sex differences in DNA methylation patterns. This suggests that early social interaction and estradiol exposure may converge at the genome to organize lasting sex differences in the brain via epigenetic differentiation.

scholarly journals Estrogen Receptor α Gene Promoter 0/B Usage in the Rat Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus of the Preoptic Area

Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 1923-1928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Hamada ◽  
Yasuo Sakuma
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Sexual Differentiation ◽  
Preoptic Area ◽  
Gene Promoter ◽  
Estrogen Receptor Α ◽  
Egfp Expression ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Transgenic Rats ◽  
The Core ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus

The volume of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) is two to four times larger in male rats than in females; however, the mechanism for the establishment of sexual dimorphism and the function of this nucleus is almost unknown. Perinatal estrogen can cause sexual dimorphism via the estrogen receptor α (ERα). Recently, transgenic rats were generated that express enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the ERα gene promoter 0/B to tag ERα-positive neurons in the brain. In the present study, we examined whether this EGFP expression could be a marker for the SDN-POA in adults. EGFP-labeled cells were distributed in the core of the SDN-POA (0/B-SDN) of male and female transgenic rats, in accordance with the Nissl staining and immunoreactivity for the SDN marker, calbindin. They were also immunoreactive for ERα. The core was bigger in volume and contained more 0/B-SDN neurons in males than in females. The EGFP-tagged cells were packed more densely in the female core than that in males. Subcutaneous injection of 100 μg 17β-estradiol to females on the day of birth, or orchidectomy of male neonates, reversed the sexually dimorphic phenotype of the volume of the 0/B-SDN, despite not affecting the cell number. We suggest that this EGFP expression in the SDN-POA could be a useful marker to clarify the sexual differentiation and function of the SDN-POA. Moreover, the ERα gene promoter 0/B plays a key role in the organization of the sexual differentiation of the SDN-POA.

scholarly journals The Ability of Estradiol to Induce Fos Expression in a Subset of Estrogen Receptor-α-Containing Neurons in the Preoptic Area of the Ewe Depends on Reproductive Status1

Endocrinology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Stefanovic ◽  
Brian Adrian ◽  
Heiko T. Jansen ◽  
Michael N. Lehman ◽  
Robert L. Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Preoptic Area ◽  
Estrogen Receptor Α ◽  
Fos Expression

scholarly journals Evidence that Orphanin FQ Mediates Progesterone Negative Feedback in the Ewe

Endocrinology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (11) ◽  
pp. 4249-4258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey C Nestor ◽  
Lique M. Coolen ◽  
Gail L. Nesselrod ◽  
Miro Valent ◽  
John M. Connors ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Pulse Amplitude ◽  
Estrogen Receptor Α ◽  
Pulse Frequency ◽  
Orphanin Fq ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Lh Secretion

Orphanin FQ (OFQ), a member of the opioid family, is found in many areas of the hypothalamus and, when given centrally OFQ inhibits episodic LH secretion in rodents and sheep. Because GnRH neurons are devoid of the appropriate receptors to mediate steroid negative feedback directly, neurons that release OFQ may be involved. Using immunocytochemistry, we first determined that most OFQ neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and other hypothalamic regions of luteal phase ewes contained both estrogen receptor α and progesterone (P) receptor. Given a similar high degree of steroid receptor colocalization in other ARC subpopulations, we examined whether OFQ neurons of the ARC contained those other neuropeptides and neurotransmitters. OFQ did not colocalize with kisspeptin, tyrosine hydroxylase, or agouti-related peptide, but all ARC OFQ neurons coexpressed proopiomelanocortin. To test for a role for endogenous OFQ, we examined the effects of an OFQ receptor antagonist, [Nphe1,Arg14,Lys15]Nociceptin-NH2 (UFP-101) (30 nmol intracerebroventricular/h), on LH secretion in steroid-treated ewes in the breeding season and ovary-intact ewes in anestrus. Ovariectomized ewes with luteal phase concentrations of P and estradiol showed a significant increase in LH pulse frequency during infusion of UFP-101 (4.5 ± 0.5 pulses/6 h) compared with saline infusion (2.6 ± 0.4 pulses/6 h), whereas ewes implanted with only estradiol did not. Ovary-intact anestrous ewes displayed no significant differences in LH pulse amplitude or frequency during infusion of UFP-101. Therefore, we conclude that OFQ mediates, at least in part, the negative feedback action of P on GnRH/LH pulse frequency in sheep.

Sex Differences in Estrogen Receptor α and β Levels and Activation Status in LPS-Stimulated Human Macrophages

2016 ◽  
Vol 232 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Campesi ◽  
Maria Marino ◽  
Andrea Montella ◽  
Sara Pais ◽  
Flavia Franconi
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Estrogen Receptor Α ◽  
Human Macrophages ◽  
Activation Status
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