Neuroanatomical specificity in the co‐localization of aromatase and estrogen receptors

Balthazart, Jacques; Foidart, Agnès; Surlemont, C.; Harada, Nobuhiro

doi:10.1002/neu.480220205

Cited by 129 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…In quail, estrogen is very potent in the male POM in up-regulating aromatase activity and the number of cells expressing aromatase . Somewhat surprisingly, aromatase is not co-localized with ER (usually antibodies specific to ERα) in areas such as the POM while in other areas such as the ventro-medial nucleus of the hypothalamus the co-localization is high [Balthazart et al, 1991;. This lack of co-localization is consistent with the hypothesis that aromatase is regulated trans-synaptically .…”

Section: The Preoptic Nucleus and Male Sexual Behavior In Japanese Quailsupporting

confidence: 69%

“…In starlings, as was observed in quail, the highest levels of expression are apparent in the lateral part of the nucleus. This lateral part of the nucleus corresponds to where cells expressing aromatase are most abundent in the quail POM [Balthazart et al, 1990[Balthazart et al, , 1991. Darkfield photomicrographs illustrating the expression of ERβ, ERα, and AR in the song control nucleus, HVc (or High Vocal Center) and the preoptic medial nucleus (POM) in European starlings as determined by in situ hybridization histochemistry.…”

Section: Localization Of Estrogen Receptor ␣ and ␤ In The Brain Of Eumentioning

confidence: 99%

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Steroid Sensitive Sites in the Avian Brain: Does the Distribution of the Estrogen Receptor α and β Types Provide Insight into Their Function?

Ball¹,

Bernard²,

Foidart³

et al. 1999

Brain Behav Evol

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Studies in avian species have often been useful in elucidating basic concepts relevant to the regulation of reproductive behaviors by sex steroid hormones. Once a link between a steroid hormone and a behavioral response has been established, one can use the localization of steroid hormone receptors in the brain to facilitate the identification of neural circuits that control behavior. The recent identification of a second type of estrogen receptor called estrogen receptor β or ERβ has raised new issues about the action of steroid hormones in the brain. A hypothesis has been proposed by Kuiper et al. [1998] based on studies in mammalian species suggesting that ERα (the name given to the ER that was previously described) is important for reproduction while ERβ is more important for non-reproductive functions. In this paper we apply this hypothesis more generally by examining possible functions of ERβ in avian species. We have initiated studies of the ERβ in the brain of two avian species, the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). ERβ was cloned in both species and the mRNA for this receptor type was localized in the brain employing in situ hybridization histochemistry methods. In both species ERβ was found to be diffusely present in telencephalic areas consistent with a role for this receptor subtype in cognitive functions. However, ERβ mRNA was also found in many brain areas that are traditionally thought to be important in the regulation of reproductive functions such as the preoptic region, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the nucleus taeniae. Of the two receptor types, only mRNA for ERα was observed in the telencephalic vocal control nucleus HVc of male starlings. Steroid receptors in this nucleus are thought to be an example of an evolutionary specialization that has evolved to coordinate the production of courtship vocalizations with other aspects of reproduction. The lack of ERβ mRNA expression in HVc is consistent with the hypothesis that ERα is preferentially involved in reproductive behaviors while ERβ is involved in the steroid regulation of other neural functions. However, the widespread occurrence of ERβ in other nuclei involved in reproductive function suggests that one must be cautious about the general applicability of the above hypothesis until more is known about ERβ function in these other nuclei.

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Section: The Preoptic Nucleus and Male Sexual Behavior In Japanese Quailsupporting

confidence: 69%

Section: Localization Of Estrogen Receptor ␣ and ␤ In The Brain Of Eumentioning

confidence: 99%

Steroid Sensitive Sites in the Avian Brain: Does the Distribution of the Estrogen Receptor α and β Types Provide Insight into Their Function?

Ball¹,

Bernard²,

Foidart³

et al. 1999

Brain Behav Evol

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“…Aro-ir is present in neuronal cell bodies in the BNST and the MEA [58]. Moreover, colocalization of Aro-ir and ER-ir has only been demonstrated in quails [61] and musk shrew [62] and, in both species, Aro-ir and ER-ir are colocalized in relatively few medial preoptic neurons. Based on this evidence, any synergy between estrogen and androgen with respect to mating cannot be explained in terms of a single cell type.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Androgen Receptors and Estrogen Receptors Are Colocalized in Male Rat Hypothalamic and Limbic Neurons that Express Fos Immunoreactivity Induced by Mating

et al. 1998

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Conversion of testosterone into estradiol is important for male rat sexual behavior, and both steroids probably contribute to mating. The distributions of neurons containing androgen receptors (AR) and estrogen receptors (ER) overlap, and many AR-immunoreactive (AR-ir) neurons express Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) induced by mating. Because mating-induced Fos-ir in the male rat occurs mainly in AR-ir neurons, and because both steroids are important for mating, we hypothesized that (i) AR-ir and ER-ir are colocalized and that (ii) some of these neurons are activated during mating. We examined, in adjacent sections from the medial preoptic area (MPN) through the central tegmental field (CTF), the expression of ER-ir in: (i) AR-ir-containing neurons, and (ii) Fos-ir-expressive neurons. PG21 anti-AR, OA-11-824 anti-c-fos, H222 or 1D5 anti-ER primary antibodies were visualized, respectively, with cyanine-conjugated, fluorescein- or cyanine-conjugated, and fluorescein-conjugated secondary antibodies in male rats which were killed 1 h after ejaculating with a receptive female. In MPN, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and medial amygdala (MEA), 80–90% of ER-ir labeling occurred in AR-ir-positive neurons but only about 30% of AR-ir neurons were ER-ir-positive. No ER-ir was found in the CTF. This suggests the presence of three types of brain neurons sensitive to gonadal steroid hormones: neurons sensitive to androgens only, neurons sensitive to both androgens and estrogens, and neurons sensitive to estrogens only. About 50% of ER-ir labeling occurred in cells expressing mating-induced Fos-ir but only about 30% of Fos-ir neurons were ER-ir-positive. These findings suggest that, in the MPN, at least two different neuronal populations are activated during mating: the first contains AR-ir only and the second contains AR-ir and ER-ir. In the BNST and MEA, at least three hormonally sensitive populations are activated during mating: the two described above plus a third population which expresses ER-ir only.

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“…It has been demonstrated that the brain of the Japanese quail possesses cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc; gene name Cyp11a ), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ 5 -Δ 4 -isomerase (3β-HSD; gene name Hsd3b ), 5β-reductase (gene name Srd5b ), cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase/c17,20-lyase (P450 17α,lyase ; gene name Cyp17 ), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD; gene name Hsd17b ), etc., and produces pregnenolone, progesterone, epipregnanolone (3β,5β-tetrahydroprogesterone; 3β,5β-THP), androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol-17β from cholesterol [2,6,19,20,21,22,23,24,25]. The expression and activity of cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom; gene name Cyp19 ), which converts testosterone into estradiol-17β, have also been demonstrated in the quail brain [54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65]. Independently, neurosteroidogenesis in the brain has been demonstrated in the zebra finch [27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35].…”

Section: Studies On Neurosteroidogenesis In Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biosynthesis and Biological Actions of Pineal Neurosteroids in Domestic Birds

Tsutsui

Haraguchi²,

Hatori

et al. 2013

Neuroendocrinology

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The central and peripheral nervous systems have the capacity of synthesizing steroids de novofrom cholesterol, the so-called ‘neurosteroids'. De novo synthesis of neurosteroids from cholesterol appears to be a conserved property across the subphylum vertebrata. Until recently, it was generally believed that neurosteroids are produced in neurons and glial cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems. However, our recent studies on birds have demonstrated that the pineal gland, an endocrine organ located close to the brain, is an important site of production of neurosteroids de novo from cholesterol. 7α-Hydroxypregnenolone is a major pineal neurosteroid that stimulates locomotor activity of juvenile birds, connecting light-induced gene expression with locomotion. The other major pineal neurosteroid allopregnanolone is involved in Purkinje cell survival by suppressing the activity of caspase-3, a crucial mediator of apoptosis during cerebellar development. This review is an updated summary of the biosynthesis and biological actions of pineal neurosteroids.

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Neuroanatomical specificity in the co‐localization of aromatase and estrogen receptors

Cited by 129 publications

References 53 publications

Steroid Sensitive Sites in the Avian Brain: Does the Distribution of the Estrogen Receptor α and β Types Provide Insight into Their Function?

Steroid Sensitive Sites in the Avian Brain: Does the Distribution of the Estrogen Receptor α and β Types Provide Insight into Their Function?

Androgen Receptors and Estrogen Receptors Are Colocalized in Male Rat Hypothalamic and Limbic Neurons that Express Fos Immunoreactivity Induced by Mating

Biosynthesis and Biological Actions of Pineal Neurosteroids in Domestic Birds

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