Preprotachykinin gene expression in the mediobasal hypothalamus of estrogen-treated and ovariectomized control rats.
We have determined the localization of preprotachykinin (PPT) mRNA-containing neurons in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the rat. PPT mRNA-containing neurons are present in the ventromedial nucleus (with a concentration in the ventrolateral aspect (VL-VM], the dorsomedial nucleus, the lateral hypothalamus and the arcuate nucleus. This distribution is consistent with the findings of immunocytochemical studies of substance P-immunoreactive neurons in the hypothalamus. We have also examined whether PPT gene expression is regulated by estrogen in the VL-VM by comparing the levels of PPT mRNA in the VL-VM of ovariectomized rats and ovariectomized, estrogen-replaced rats. Both in situ hybridization and slot blot hybridization analysis revealed no changes in PPT mRNA content in the VL-VM following estrogen treatment. These results suggest that estrogen does not regulate lordosis behavior by affecting PPT gene expression in VL-VM neurons.
Romano
G J
GJ
Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021.
Bonner
T I
TI
Pfaff
D W
DW
D000818:Animals; D004343:Drug Implants; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007033:Hypothalamus, Middle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000378:metabolism*
D004343:Drug Implants; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015320:Tachykinins; C044206:preprotachykinin; D004958:Estradiol