Expression of estrogen receptor alpha and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 4 in the ciliary body.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and distribution of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 4 (HSD4) in bovine and monkey ciliary body.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical study was employed to investigate the expression of ERalpha and 17beta-HSD4. To detect ERalpha and 17beta-HSD4 transcripts, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used.


RESULTS
In bovine and monkey ciliary body, the staining of the anti-ERalpha antibody was distributed in nonpigmented epithelium, and was not detectable in pigmented epithelium. Vessels in the stroma were also stained. The expression of 17beta-HSD4 was observed in nonpigmented and pigmented epithelium. RT-PCR revealed that the transcripts of ERalpha and 17beta-HSD4 were expressed in monkey ciliary body.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence for the presence of ERalpha and 17beta- HSD4 in the ciliary body. The presence of ERalpha and 17beta-HSD4 suggests that estrogen may have important functions in the ciliary body.
Kobayashi
Kaori
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, 849-8501, Saga , Japan. kobayask@post.saga-med.ac.jp.
Iwakiri
Ryo
R
Department of Ophthalmology, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, 849-8501, Saga , Japan.
Kobayashi
Hiroshi
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, 849-8501, Saga , Japan.
Okinami
Satoshi
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, 849-8501, Saga , Japan.
D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000378:metabolism*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases