Effects of dihydrotestosterone on brain mRNA levels of steroid 5alpha-reductase isozymes in early postnatal life of rat.
We studied the expression of type 1 (5alpha-R1) and type 2 (5alpha-R2) 5alpha-reductase isozymes (5alpha-R) and their regulation by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prefrontal cortex of male and female rats during postnatal sexual differentiation of the central nervous system (CNS), using one-step quantitative RT-PCR coupled with laser-induced fluorescence capillary electrophoresis. We found a higher expression of 5alpha-R2, which is considered a masculinizing enzyme, in the female versus male CNS, and observed sexual dimorphism in the regulation of both 5alpha-R isozymes by DHT. These results open up a new research line that could improve understanding of the role of 5alpha-R isozymes in the physiology of the CNS.
Sánchez
Pilar
P
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Avda. de Madrid s/n, Granada, Spain.
Torres
Jesús M
JM
Ortega
Esperanza
E
D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D005260:Female; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D012015:Reference Standards; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D007527:Isoenzymes; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase