title: Gonadal steroid receptor mRNA in catecholaminergic nuclei of the canary brainstem.
abstract: Steroid actions in the song system may be modulated by ascending inputs from catecholaminergic (CA) brain nuclei; however, whether these nuclei contain steroid receptors is unknown. Here, we compared the distribution of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) mRNA with that of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH-IR) in the brainstems of male canaries. Areas containing AR and ER-alpha mRNA overlapped with areas containing TH-IR cell bodies in the locus ceruleus and the area ventralis of Tsai. The substantia nigra and the midbrain central gray contained both TH-IR and AR mRNA. The presence of AR and ER-alpha within CA cell groups suggests that sex steroid hormones may modulate song production at the site of CA synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Group, Department of Psychology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA. maney@jhu.edu
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Maney
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002171:Canaries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D002395:Catecholamines; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen