Abolition of sex-dependent effects of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol on emotional behavior in estrogen receptor-alpha knockout mice.
To investigate the contribution of estrogen receptor-alpha in the effects of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol on emotionality, estrogen receptor-alpha knockout heterozygous pregnant mice were orally given 0.1 microg/animal of diethylstilbestrol from gestational day 11 to 17. Emotional behavior of the offspring was assessed at 5 weeks in light-dark transition tests. Time spent in the light area was significantly decreased (i.e. decrease of emotionality) by diethylstilbestrol exposure in wild-type female mice, whereas in wild-type male mice this measurement tended to be increased (i.e. increase of emotionality) by diethylstilbestrol treatment. These sex-dependent effects of diethylstilbestrol were completely abolished in estrogen receptor-alpha knockout mice. These results suggest that the sex-dependent effects of diethylstilbestrol on emotionality are mainly produced by its action on estrogen receptor-alpha.
Tomihara
Kazuya
K
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Law, Economics and Humanities, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Kaitsuka
Taku
T
Soga
Tomoko
T
Korach
Kenneth S
KS
Pfaff
Donald W
DW
Takahama
Kazuo
K
Ogawa
Sonoko
S
D000818:Animals; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol