Ontogeny of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 5 alpha-reductase in the frog brain.
The distribution of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) and 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R) has been studied in the frog brain during development. Soon after hatching, 3beta-HSD- and 5alpha-R-immunoreactive (ir) cells appeared first in the olfactory bulb and in the rhombencephalon. Subsequently, 3beta-HSD-ir cells were seen in the hypothalamus and cerebellum, whereas 5alpha-R-ir cells were visualized in the pallium, preoptic nucleus, posterocentral nucleus, cerebellum, and pituitary gland. At stages XIII-XVIII, additional 3beta-HSD- and 5alpha-R-ir cells appeared in several regions of the telencephalon, diencephalon, and mesencephalon. At stages XIX-XXI, the number of 5alpha-R-ir cells increased in the preoptic nucleus. These observations indicate that biosynthesis of biologically active steroids occurs in the brain of tadpoles, suggesting that neurosteroids may play a role in brain development.
Vallarino
Mauro
M
Department of Experimental Biology, University of Genova, Italy. mvallari@unige.it
Mathieu
Maura
M
do-Rego
Jean-Luc
JL
Bruzzone
Federica
F
Chartrel
Nicolas
N
Luu-The
Van
V
Pelletier
Georges
G
Vaudry
Hubert
H
D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D042944:Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011893:Rana esculenta / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D042944:Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase