Glucoprivation increases estrogen receptor alpha immunoreactivity in the brain catecholaminergic neurons in ovariectomized rats.
Estrogen-dependent enhancement of glucoprivic-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) suppression is hypothesized to be due to increased estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)-immunoreactive (ir) cells in specific brain nuclei in a manner similar to fasting. ERalpha expression in various brain areas was determined in ovariectomized rats after systemic 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG)-induced glucoprivation. Expression of ERalpha in catecholaminergic neurons in the lower brainstem was also examined. ERalpha-ir cells increased in hypothalamic paraventricular and periventricular nuclei, and A1 and A2 regions of the brainstem 1 h after 2DG injection. The percentage of ERalpha in the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)- and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH)-ir neurons was higher in A1 and A2 regions of 2DG-treated rats, but the number of TH- and DBH-ir cells did not change. Thus, 2DG induces ERalpha expression in specific brain nuclei and expression of ERalpha in catecholaminergic neurons of the brainstem indicates a role for estrogen in activating those neurons projecting to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus to suppress LH secretion during glucoprivation.
Reyes
B A
BA
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
Estacio
M A
MA
I'Anson
H
H
Tsukamura
H
H
Maeda
K I
KI
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000172:deficiency*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
D002395:Catecholamines; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D005947:Glucose