title: Estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta immunoreactive neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord of male and female mice: relationships to monoaminergic, cholinergic, and spinal projection systems.
abstract: For many populations of estrogen-sensitive neurons it remains unknown how they are associated with central nervous system circuitries that mediate estrogen-induced modulation of behavioral components. With the use of double-labeling immunohistochemistry and tracing techniques, the relationships of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha- and ER-beta-immunoreactive (IR) neurons in the mouse brainstem and spinal cord to monoaminergic, cholinergic, and spinal projection systems are explored. Similar distributions of ER-IR neurons were present in females and males, with differences in labeling intensity of ER-alpha immunoreactivity among males and estrogen-, and oil-treated females. Barrington's nucleus, the ventrolateral medulla, and the nucleus of the solitary tract contained spinal-projecting ER-alpha-IR neurons, whereas ER-alpha-IR neurons in the periaqueductal gray, parabrachial nucleus, and catecholaminergic A1 cell group received spinal input. Numerous tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-IR ER-alpha-IR neurons were present in the ventral periaqueductal gray, nucleus of the solitary tract, A1 cell group, and lumbosacral cord. The dorsal raphe nucleus contained ER-alpha-IR and ER-beta-IR neurons that colocalized with serotonin (5HT), and the reticulotegmental nucleus contained 5HT-IR ER-alpha-IR neurons. Fibers IR for vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), TH, and 5HT were located among ER-alpha-IR neurons in the dorsal horn and spinal autonomic regions. Robust staining for TH and VAChT, but not 5HT, was present among ER-alpha-IR neurons in the lumbosacral lateral collateral pathway. Possible modulatory actions of estrogen on each of these ER-IR populations are discussed in the context of their specific function, including micturition, sexual behavior, ejaculation, cardiovascular and respiratory control, tactile and nociceptive sensory processing, anti-nociception, endocrine regulation, and feeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm S-17177, Sweden. veronique.van.der.horst@neuro.ki.se
authors.forename: Veronique G J M
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Vanderhorst
authors.forename: Jan-Ake
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: Brun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulfhake
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000378:metabolism; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000379:methods; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D004967:Estrogens; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C493460:Slc18a3 protein, mouse; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase