The distribution of estrogen receptor-beta mRNA in the rat hypothalamus.
The recent cloning of a second form of the estrogen receptor (ER-beta) has made it possible to map the distribution of ER-beta mRNA-containing perikarya in the rat hypothalamus. The present in situ hybridization histochemical studies have detected ER-beta mRNA in the medial preoptic area; the anterior periventricular, paraventricular, supraoptic, arcuate, medial tuberal and medial mammillary nuclei; the bed nucleus of the stria terminals, and zona incerta. As previously described for the classical ER (ER-alpha) mRNA, a dense accumulation of ER-beta mRNA-expressing perikarya is present in the medial preoptic area and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. In contrast, ER-beta mRNA was also concentrated in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, brain regions which contain little or no ER-alpha mRNA. Moreover, the arcuate and ventromedial nuclei, areas with abundant ER-alpha. contain only a weak level of ER-beta hybridization signal. The description of ER-beta mRNA-containing perikarya in the rat hypothalamus provides a foundation for further morphological and physiological studies aimed at elucidating the role of ER-beta in the hypothalamus.
Shughrue
P J
PJ
Women's Health Research Institute, Wyeth-Ayerst Research, Radnor, PA 19087, USA.
Komm
B
B
Merchenthaler
I
I
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen