title: Inhibitory effects of catecholamines and maternal stress on aromatase activity in the fetal rat brain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aromatization in the the fetal brain is thought to be involved both in sex differentiation during early development and in adult sexual behavior. Although recently the relationship between aromatase and catecholamine has been discussed, the effect of stress on aromatase in the fetal brain has not been clarified. Therefore, in the present study, localization of aromatase and the inhibitory effects of catecholamines and maternal stress on aromatase activity in the fetal rat brain were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Localization of aromatase cytochrome P-450 using a specific polyclonal antiserum against human placenta aromatase was examined, and the inhibitory effects of dopamine and norepinephrine on aromatase activity in vitro were studied. Further, the influences of intrauterine stress on aromatase activity in the prenatal rat brain were evaluated in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aromatase-immunoreactive neurons are located principally in the medial amygdaloid nucleus. Aromatase activity in the fetal rat brain was competitively inhibited by dopamine and norepinephrine, with Ki values of 120 microM and 100 microM, respectively. Aromatase activity in the fetal brain was significantly lower in stressed rats given 1.5% salt water (89.2 +/- 17.5 fmol/mg/hr; n = 4) (p < 0.05) than in the control group (123.1 +/- 10.0 fmol/mg/hr; n = 4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aromatase activity in the prenatal rat brain is influenced by catecholamine metabolism during intrauterine stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jimbo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanaihara
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008861:Microsomes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D001141:Aromatase; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine