Presence of oestrogen receptor type beta in human retina.
OBJECTIVE
Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of two oestrogen receptor subtypes alpha (ORalpha) and beta (ORbeta) with significant differences of expression among organs. Since important pathologies of human eye could be linked to hormonal status, the expression of ORbeta in ocular posterior segment was sought.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical localisation of ORbeta and ORalpha protein and detection of OR mRNAs by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed in macular and extramacular regions of the retina and in the choroid on male and female donors eyes.


RESULTS
ORbeta protein was localised in the ganglion cell layer and in the choroid. At the transcriptional level, mRNA for ORbeta and for ORalpha were both present. Local differences in the expression level were observed, however, suggesting the possibility of variation in the ratio of ORalpha v ORbeta.


CONCLUSIONS
The coexistence of two oestrogen receptor subtypes in the human ocular posterior segment raises acute questions about their potential physiological role, but offers a perspective for preferential targeting of a specific receptor subtype.
Munaut
C
C
Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, University of Liège, Pathology Tower (B23), Sart-Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgium. c.munaut@ulg.ac.be
Lambert
V
V
Noël
A
A
Frankenne
F
F
Deprez
M
M
Foidart
J M
JM
Rakic
J M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002829:Choroid / Q000737:chemistry; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen