Estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta coexist in a subpopulation of sensory neurons of female rat dorsal root ganglia.
Immunoreactivities for estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) and ER-beta are expressed in sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). It has not been established, however, if the two receptor subtypes coexist in the same neuron. Double-staining immunohistochemical techniques were used to determine if subpopulations of neurons in the lumbosacral DRG exist based on their content of ERs. Results indicate that some neurons (approximately 17%) of the L6-S1 DRG contain ER-alpha -, some (approximately 23%) contain ER-beta - immunoreactivity and some (approximately 5%) express immunoreactivity for both subtypes of the ER. These results suggest that many sensory neurons can respond to estrogens, but estrogens may produce different morphofunctional effects in different neurons based on their expression of ER subtypes.
Papka
Raymond E
RE
Department of Neurobiology and Pharmacology, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, P.O. Box 95, 4209 State Rt. 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA. rpapka@neoucom.edu
Storey-Workley
Megan
M
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000294:innervation; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen