Treatment of rats with 17beta-estradiol or relaxin rapidly inhibits uterine estrogen receptor beta1 and beta2 messenger ribonucleic acid levels.
Estrogen regulates the growth and differentiation of the uterus via binding to estrogen receptors (ERs), members of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors. Two forms of ER exist: ERalpha and ERbeta. The former is a well-characterized mediator of estrogen-induced transcription, but the function of the latter is unclear. Recent in vitro studies suggest that both splicing forms of ERbeta expressed in rat tissues, beta1 and beta2, may function as inhibitors of ERalpha transcriptional activity. To gain insight into the role of ERbeta in estrogen action, we examined the effects of estrogen and relaxin, a ligand-independent activator of ERs, on the expression of ERbeta1 and ERbeta2 mRNA in the uterus in vivo. Eighteen-day-old female rats were ovariectomized and, after recovery, treated with 17beta-estradiol, relaxin, or vehicle. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses of uterine RNA from estrogen-treated animals revealed marked decreases in the steady-state levels of the mRNAs for both ERbeta1 and ERbeta2 at 3, 6, and 24 h after treatment. Relaxin induced a similar effect. Neither hormone had any significant effect on ERalpha mRNA levels. To determine if endogenous estrogen exerts this effect, we examined the expression of ERbetas in the uterus during the estrous cycle. Levels of both isoforms were highest at diestrus (low estrogen), were significantly lower at early proestrus (rising estrogen), reached a nadir during late proestrus (peak estrogen), and rebounded at estrus (declining estrogen). These data suggest that down-regulation of ERbeta expression may be required for estrogen to exert its full trophic effects on the uterus.
Pillai
Suresh B
SB
Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA.
Jones
Jenny M
JM
Koos
Robert D
RD
D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics*; D012065:Relaxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D004958:Estradiol; D012065:Relaxin