Regulation of activin type-II receptor mRNA levels in rat hypothalamus by estradiol in vivo.
A solution-hybridization S1-nuclease protection assay was used to evaluate the expression of messenger RNAs for the activin beta A subunit and type II activin receptor in adult rat brain. Results indicate the presence of beta A subunit mRNA in both hypothalamus and brainstem, with approximately two-fold higher levels in brainstem. Levels of activin type II receptor mRNA were similar in the hypothalamus of young virgin and 15-day lactating females, and in females in which pups were removed after a 5-day lactation period. Male rats castrated prepubertally (30 days p.n.) had approximately 220% higher (P < 0.05) hypothalamic activin type II receptor mRNA levels than postpubertal, 3-month old age-matched sham controls. Two month treatment of castrate rats with estradiol (200 ng/g, i.p. every 2 days) reduced hypothalamic activin type II receptor mRNA expression to control levels; the same dose of testosterone had no effect. The expression of the hypothalamic activin type II receptor gene may be estrogen-regulated in vivo.
Trudeau
V L
VL
Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
Pope
L
L
de Winter
J P
JP
Haché
R J
RJ
Renaud
L P
LP
D029404:Activin Receptors; D000591:Amino Acid Isomerases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000737:chemistry*; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D019696:Peptidylprolyl Isomerase; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014886:Weaning
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003524:Cyclosporins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D029404:Activin Receptors; D000591:Amino Acid Isomerases; D019696:Peptidylprolyl Isomerase