Localization of estrogen receptors and estrogen receptor-mRNA in female mouse thymus.
The present study was performed to demonstrate estrogen receptor (ER) and ER-mRNA in female mouse thymus. The results are as follows: (i) thymic tissue contains ER in both reticuloepithelial(RE)- and T-cell fractions, the ER level being three-fold higher in the former fraction than in the latter; and (ii) thymic tissue contains ER-mRNA at 6.2 kb, a large amount of which was localized in the RE cells and less in the T cells. From these results it is suggested that estrogen (E) mediates some immune function of the mouse thymus through its receptor within RE cells and/or T cells.
Kawashima
I
I
Department of Morphology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Seiki
K
K
Sakabe
K
K
Ihara
S
S
Akatsuka
A
A
Katsumata
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000737:chemistry*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen