Regulation of Estrogen Receptor-β Expression in the Female Rat Hypothalamus: Differential Effects of Dexamethasone and Estradiol
Abstract
Estrogen and glucocorticoids interact in multiple aspects of endocrine regulation by exerting opposing influences on the expression of selective genes. In rats, estrogen receptor (ER)-beta is the predominant form of ER present in the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei, suggesting its involvement in neuroendocrine regulation. To date, the hormonal regulatory profile of the ERbeta gene in the rat central nervous system has not been closely elucidated. In the present study, we first examined the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) and estradiol benzoate (EB) on the ERbeta protein expression in the PVN and SON of ovariectomized female rats. In the SON and parvocellular and magnocellular parts of the PVN, the number of ERbeta immunoreactive nuclei significantly increased after DEX treatment, compared with the control group, whereas EB treatment caused a significant decrease. The effect of EB was consistent across other brain nuclei such as the anteroventral periventricular nucleus and medial preoptic nucleus. To determine the molecular level at which DEX and EB control ERbeta expression, we examined the effects of these steroids on ERbeta mRNA levels using real-time RT-PCR. EB significantly decreased the expression of ERbeta mRNA in the PVN (P = 0.0006) and SON (P < 0.01). In contrast, DEX did not change ERbeta mRNA levels. These results indicate that glucocorticoids and estrogen exert opposing regulatory influences on the ERbeta gene expression. This may re…
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Estrogen receptors are expressed in different proportions in CRH, AVP, and OT neurons populating the PVN.
“PVN neuropeptide neurons are the drivers of the HPA axis, yet, estrogen receptors are expressed in different proportions in CRH, AVP, and OT neurons populating the PVN (Hrabovszky et al., 2004; Laflamme, Nappi, Drolet, Labrie, & Rivest, 1998; Suzuki & Handa, 2004).”
From Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal and hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axes: sex differences in regulation of stress responsivity (2017) · cites this paper as Suzuki & Handa, 2004
85% of OT neurons in the PVN express ERβ in the rat and in mice.
“However, 85% of OT neurons in the PVN also express ERβ in the rat (Hrabovszky et al., 2004; Suzuki & Handa, 2004) and in mice (Oyola, Thomson, Handa, & Handa, 2017).”
From Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal and hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axes: sex differences in regulation of stress responsivity (2017) · cites this paper as Suzuki & Handa, 2004
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References 73 · Cited by 74
- Authors
- Suzuki, S., & Handa, R. J.
- Affiliations
- Loyola University Chicago (US)
- Colorado State University (US)
- Venue
- Endocrinology
- Publisher
- The Endocrine Society
- Published
- 2004-08-01
- Volume
- 145
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 3658-3670
- ISSN
- 0013-7227 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7170
- OpenAlex
- W2012888249
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 2.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA012693, AA12693)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS039951, NS39951)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- estrogen receptor beta, hypothalamus, dexamethasone, estradiol benzoate, glucocorticoids, estrogen, paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, gene expression regulation, neuroendocrine regulation, ovariectomized rats, anteroventral periventricular nucleus, medial preoptic nucleus
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Arginine Vasopressin, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Dexamethasone, Estradiol, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Hypothalamus, Immunohistochemistry, Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus, Receptors, Estrogen, RNA, Messenger, Supraoptic Nucleus, Estrogen Receptor beta, Rats
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