title: Quantitative analysis of estrogen receptor proteins in rat ovary.
abstract: The mRNAs of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta), and its splice variant, ERbeta2, are abundant in granulosa cells in the ovary. With the use of antibodies, ERbeta protein has also been shown to be abundantly expressed, but to date no ERbeta2 protein has been demonstrated in the ovary. ERbeta2 has a peptide, 18 amino acids in length, inserted into its ligand-binding domain, resulting in a reported 35-fold reduction in its affinity for estrogen (E2). ERalpha, ERbeta1 and ERbeta2 were quantified by Western blotting and by RT-PCR and their cellular localization in the ovary was examined by immunohistochemistry. In 3- and 5-week-old virgin, pregnant, lactating and post-lactating rats, the level of ERalpha protein ranged between 1.6 and 3.8 fmol/microg total protein. That of ERbeta was 8.8-11.2 and of ERbeta2, in the same samples, 4.1-5.9 fmol/microg total protein. ERbeta2 and ERbeta1 proteins were, therefore, present in approximately equal amounts in the ovary throughout the various reproductive stages. The major ERbeta proteins in rat ovary, detected by their molecular weights on Western blots, were ERbeta1-530 and ERbeta2-548 (530+18 amino acids (aa)). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that ERbeta and ERbeta2 were expressed predominantly in granulosa cells of growing follicles, while ERalpha was found only in theca cells. In some theca cells, both ERalpha, ERbeta2 were expressed. The data suggests that in theca cells, where it is co expressed with ERalpha, ERbeta2 could function as a repressor of ERalpha. However, in granulosa cells where no ERalpha is detectable, and where E2 levels are high, ERbeta2, with its low affinity for E2, could be an important sensor through which E2 exerts regulatory control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu City 501-1194, Japan. hideki-s@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Bao Li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamaya
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000502:physiology; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger