Distribution of nuclear receptors for steroid hormones in the human brain: a preliminary study.
BACKGROUND
Expression of the nuclear steroid hormone receptors (SHR) within certain parts of the human brain has been described by many authors. However, a comprehensive analysis of SHR expression in the human brain still has not been performed.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of SHR in different anatomical areas of the brain, especially within the neocortex.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR) and androgen receptors (AR) in different regions of the human brain was examined.


RESULTS
Nuclear expression of the AR was found in the mamillary body, praecentral gyrus and hippocampus of males. The same expression in analysed structures of female was not found. The expression of ER and PR was not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The analysis revealed unexpected localization of SHR within the brain cortex, which could be the first step to the explanation of SHR action in brain as an interrelationship to function and behaviour. These results indicate on the possibility of SHR detection in post-mortal brain.
Bezdickova
Marcela
M
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic. xbezdick@yahoo.co.uk
Molikova
Radka
R
Bebarova
Linda
L
Kolar
Zdenek
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism*
D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid