Regulation of progesterone receptor gene expression by sex steroid hormones in the hypothalamus and the cerebral cortex of the rabbit.
The effects of estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone (P4) upon progesterone receptor (PR) gene expression in the cerebral cortex and the hypothalamus of the rabbit were studied. Ovariectomized adult rabbits were subcutaneously treated with EB (25 micrograms/kg) for 2 days, and with EB (25 micrograms/kg) + a single dose of P4 (5 mg/kg) on day 3. Twenty-four hours after the last dose, the frontal cortex, the hypothalamus and the uterus were excised, total RNA was extracted and processed for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. PR gene expression was induced by EB and down-regulated by P4 both in the frontal cortex and the hypothalamus in a manner similar to that observed in the uterus. The finding that PR gene transcription is regulated by steroid hormones in the cerebral cortex suggests that post-transcriptional processes are involved in the insensitivity of cortical PR protein to steroids regulation previously reported with binding techniques.
Camacho-Arroyo
I
I
Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., Mexico.
Pasapera
A M
AM
Cerbón
M A
MA
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D010052:Ovariectomy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol