title: Regulation by androgen of levels of the beta subunit of nerve growth factor and its mRNA in selected regions of the mouse brain.
abstract: Our previous studies showed that the concentration of the beta subunit of nerve growth factor (beta-NGF) in nervous tissues is higher in male than in female mice. To identify the brain regions that are affected by androgens, the amounts of beta-NGF protein and its mRNAs were measured in male, female, and castrated male CD-1 mice and testicular feminization mice at 3-4 months of age. Among tissues examined, the hypophysis of males contained the highest average concentration of beta-NGF protein. In most regions of the brain, individual levels were more variable in males than in females. However, after the castration, such variations in beta-NGF levels disappeared. Average levels of beta-NGF protein in males were higher in the cerebellum (eightfold higher), olfactory bulb (12-fold higher), hypothalamus (sixfold higher), and hypophysis (72-fold higher) than those in corresponding regions of females. No significant differences were observed in levels of beta-NGF protein in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, striatum, septum, and brainstem. The castration of male mice caused a reduction in levels of beta-NGF protein in the hypothalamus and hypophysis, but not in the cerebellum and olfactory bulb, to the female levels. The concentrations of beta-NGF protein in testicular feminization mice were similar to those in female CD-1 mice in all regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Prefecture Colony, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Katoh-Semba
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Semba
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arakawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen