title: Development of androgen receptor and p75(NTR) mRNAs and peptides in the lumbar spinal cord of the gerbil.
abstract: Development of sex differences in the spinal cord appears to be largely under the control of androgen and although neurotrophins may also have a role. Spinal cords of male and female neonatal gerbils (postnatal days 1, 5, 7, 10, 23) and adult gerbils (postnatal day 150) were examined to determine the relative temporal expression of androgen receptor (AR) and the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75) mRNAs within the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) and dorsolateral nucleus (DLN). Furthermore, prepubertal male gerbils were placed into one of six gonadal hormone treatment groups at weaning: Either sham castrate, castrated with gonadal hormone replacement, or castrated without gonadal hormone replacement. Ten weeks later gerbils were aldehyde-perfused, spinal cords removed and processed for presence of AR and p75 immunoreactivity (ir) in motoneurons of the SNB and DLN. During neonatal development, there were significant increases in androgen receptor mRNA within the SNB and DLN. In the SNB, the increase in androgen receptor mRNA preceded the increase in p75 mRNA. Peripubertally, significantly more SNB than DLN motoneurons contained AR- and p75-ir. These data demonstrate that AR expression occurs along the same developmental time frame as the development of the SNB and DLN and the organizational effects of androgens on their development continues through puberty in the male gerbil.
authors.affiliation: Program in Neuroscience and Department of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99161-6520 USA. gsfraley@vetmed.wsu.edu
authors.forename: Gregory Scott
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Fraley
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ulibarri
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol