Activation of progestin receptors in female reproductive behavior: Interactions with neurotransmitters.
The steroid hormone, progesterone (P), modulates neuroendocrine functions in the central nervous system resulting in alterations in physiology and reproductive behavior in female mammals. A wide body of evidence indicates that these neural effects of P are predominantly mediated via their intracellular progestin receptors (PRs) functioning as "ligand-dependent" transcription factors in the steroid-sensitive neurons regulating genes and genomic networks. In addition to P, intracellular PRs can be activated by neurotransmitters, growth factors and cyclic nucleotides in a ligand-independent manner via crosstalk and convergence of pathways. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that rapid signaling events associated with membrane PRs and/or extra-nuclear, cytoplasmic PRs converge with classical PR activated pathways in neuroendocrine regulation of female reproductive behavior. The molecular mechanisms, by which multiple signaling pathways converge on PRs to modulate PR-dependent female reproductive behavior, are discussed in this review.
Mani
Shaila
S
Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA. smani@bcm.tmc.edu <smani@bcm.tmc.edu>
Portillo
Wendy
W
D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008024:Ligands; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D004967:Estrogens; D008024:Ligands; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D004298:Dopamine