Synergistic control by androgens and estrogens of aromatase in the quail brain.
Castrated quail were injected with testosterone or with the synthetic hormones diethylstilbestrol (DES) or methyltrienolone (R1881) to analyse the steroid specificity in the induction of brain aromatase. R1881 produced a moderate (generally non-significant) increase in the number of aromatase-immunoreactive cells. DES significantly increased the number of positive cells in most brain areas. A clear synergism between DES and R1881 was observed in all brain regions: more immunoreactive cells were found in birds receiving both compounds than in those injected with DES or R1881 alone. DES and R1881 are highly specific ligands for oestrogen and androgen receptors respectively. It appears likely that both androgens and oestrogens directly modulate brain aromatase, presumably at the transcription level.
Balthazart
J
J
Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Liège, Belgium.
Stoop
R
R
Foidart
A
A
Harada
N
N
D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D002988:Cloaca / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D003370:Coturnix / Q000378:metabolism*; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D015741:Metribolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D015741:Metribolone; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D001141:Aromatase