title: Estrogen-receptor-dependent regulation of neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
abstract: Estrogen has profound effects on function and plasticity of the nervous system. Receptors for estrogen (ERs) are expressed by neurons in several areas of the brain. Here we demonstrate that embryonic and adult rat neural stem cells (NSC) express ERalpha and ERbeta, 17beta-Estradiol treatment decreased the proliferation of NSC stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), which was due to the upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor, p21(Cip1). The modulatory effect of 17beta-estradiol on EGF was more pronounced in adult NSC. However, 17beta-estradiol alone increased the proliferation of embryonic, but not adult, NSC. The effect of 17beta-estradiol was inhibited by the ER antagonist, ICI-182780, showing an involvement of ERs. 17beta-Estradiol also increased the ratio of neurons to glia cells in embryonic NSC, but not in adult NSC, suggesting an influence on neurogenesis during embryonic development. The data show that estrogen, via ER, affects the proliferation and differentiation of NSC cells, probably acting in conjunction with other factors governing NSC development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center, Husargatan 3, Box 587, S-75123, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brännvall
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lindholm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005333:Fetus; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C493958:Cdkn1a protein, rat; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004958:Estradiol; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor