Effect of estrogen and antiestrogens on the estrogen receptor content in the cochlea of ovariectomized rats.
Older women in the normal population tend to develop less severe hearing loss as compared to males in the same age. In Turner syndrome (45,X), estrogen deficiency is one of the predominant problems. Ear and hearing problems are common among these patients. Does estrogen have an impact on the hearing organ? Twenty-four rats were ovariectomized and treated with vehicle (controls), estradiol or selective estrogen receptor modulators such as tamoxifen and ICI182780, in order to study the effects on the estrogen receptor levels and distribution in the inner ear. The cochleas were stained immunohistochemically using antibodies against estrogen receptor alpha and beta. No major difference in estrogen receptor content in the cochleas was observed among groups. There was however a potential down regulation of estrogen receptor alpha in the marginal cells of stria vascularis in the rats that were substituted with ICI182780 (pure antiestrogen) as compared to those given estradiol or tamoxifen. When investigating the tissues with light microscopy no change in inner ear anatomy could be observed.
Stenberg
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AE
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Karolinska Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden. annika.stenberg@cns.ki.se
Simonoska
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R
Stygar
D
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Sahlin
L
L
Hultcrantz
M
M
D000818:Animals; D003051:Cochlea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000172:deficiency / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013316:Stria Vascularis / Q000187:drug effects; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D004958:Estradiol