Rapid signaling of estrogen in hypothalamic neurons involves a novel G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor that activates protein kinase C.
Classically, 17beta-estradiol (E2) is thought to control homeostatic functions such as reproduction, stress responses, feeding, sleep cycles, temperature regulation, and motivated behaviors through transcriptional events. Although it is increasingly evident that E2 can also rapidly activate kinase pathways to have multiple downstream actions in CNS neurons, the receptor(s) and the signal transduction pathways involved have not been identified. We discovered that E2 can alter mu-opioid and GABA neurotransmission rapidly through nontranscriptional events in hypothalamic GABA, proopiomelanocortin (POMC), and dopamine neurons. Therefore, we examined the effects of E2 in these neurons using whole-cell recording techniques in ovariectomized female guinea pigs. E2 reduced rapidly the potency of the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen to activate G-protein-coupled, inwardly rectifying K+ channels in hypothalamic neurons. These effects were mimicked by the membrane impermeant E2-BSA and selective estrogen receptor modulators, including a new diphenylacrylamide compound, STX, that does not bind to intracellular estrogen receptors alpha or beta, suggesting that E2 acts through a unique membrane receptor. We characterized the coupling of this estrogen receptor to a Galpha(q)-mediated activation of phospholipase C, leading to the upregulation of protein kinase Cdelta and protein kinase A activity in these neurons. Moreover, using single-cell reverse transcription-PCR, we identified the critical transcripts, PKCdelta and its downstream target adenylyl cyclase VII, for rapid, novel signaling of E2 in GABA, POMC, and dopamine neurons. Therefore, this unique Gq-coupled estrogen receptor may be involved in rapid signaling in hypothalamic neurons that are critical for normal homeostatic functions.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239-3098, USA.
Jian
J
Qiu
Martha A
MA
Bosch
Sandra C
SC
Tobias
David K
DK
Grandy
Thomas S
TS
Scanlan
Oline K
OK
Ronnekleiv
Martin J
MJ
Kelly
D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D051745:Protein Kinase C-delta; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D004967:Estrogens; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D004958:Estradiol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; C497259:Prkcd protein, mouse; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D051745:Protein Kinase C-delta; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D043802:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D004298:Dopamine