Ontogenic expression of estrogen receptor-alpha in female rat corneas.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate ontogenic expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha in female rat corneas, as part of basic studies to elucidate the mechanism of estrogenic effects on the corneas.


METHODS
The expression and localization of ERalpha were determined using quantitative reverse transcribed-polymerase chain reaction methodology and immunohistochemistry in the corneas of female rats on day 14 of gestation and postnatal days (PNDs) 0, 21, and 60.


RESULTS
Quantitative analysis of ERalpha mRNA revealed that ERalpha gene expression increased approximately 4 times on PND 21 and about 10 times on PND 60, as compared with expression levels detected on PND 0. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that expression of ERalpha protein was evident only in nuclei of the corneal epithelial cells from PND 21 onward.


CONCLUSIONS
Ontogenic expression of ERalpha occurred in female rat corneas.
Kato
Hideo
H
Nihon Bioresearch Inc., Hashima, Japan.
Naito
Kazuyoshi
K
Katsu
Yoshinao
Y
Watanabe
Hajime
H
Ohta
Yasuhiko
Y
Iguchi
Taisen
T
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger