Estrogen stimulates the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in midbrain astroglia.
Estrogen stimulates the development of midbrain dopamine neurons predominantly by acting through membrane receptors coupled to Ca(2+)-signaling. In this report, we describe that estrogen activates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) in midbrain astrocytes but not neurons. This effect was inhibited by BAPTA which interrupts Ca(2+)-signaling but not by antagonists specific for other signaling pathways. The activation of the MAP kinase pathway suggests a potential role for astrocytes in mediating estrogen effects in the midbrain.
Ivanova
T
T
Abteilung Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Universität Ulm, D-89069, Ulm, Germany.
Karolczak
M
M
Beyer
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011247:Pregnancy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
D004967:Estrogens; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases