Maternal estrogen receptor-beta expression during mouse gestation.
OBJECTIVE
Although estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha has been well characterized, the recently identified novel ER-beta has not. In some tissues, there is overlap of the ERs, which allows for rescue in cases of deficiency; in other tissues, the ERs appear to have opposite effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of ER-beta during pregnancy.


METHODS
Pregnant mouse uteri (embryonic days 6-14, 16, 18) were studied. ER-alpha and ER-beta oligonucleotide probes were end-labeled and in situ hybridization histochemistry was performed.


RESULTS
ER-beta was strongly expressed in maternal ovaries; there was no other evidence of strong expression during gestation. ER-alpha was expressed in the uterus throughout gestation, with decreasing intensity as gestation progressed, and in maternal ovarian tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Differential expression of the two ERs was apparent during pregnancy, with ER-alpha playing a dominant role. This may have implications for selective drug treatment targeting estrogen receptors.
Spong
C Y
CY
Section on Developmental and Molecular Pharmacology, LDN, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. spongc@exchange.nih.gov
McCune
S K
SK
Sternberg
E M
EM
Gustafsson
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen