title: Androgen and estrogen receptor expression in the spinal segments of the genitofemoral nerve during testicular descent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During testicular descent (TD), the genitofemoral nerve (GFN) is masculinized by androgen. This study aimed to test whether androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor α (ERA), or estrogen receptor β (ERB) are expressed during TD in the GFN spinal segments and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in normal and flutamide-treated rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time-mated Sprague-Dawley dams were injected with flutamide (75 mg/kg, subcutaneously (S/C) in sunflower oil) on embryonic (E) days 16 to 19. Embryonic and postnatal (P) male L1-2 spinal cord segments were collected (E16, E17, E19, P0, P2, and P4) in control and flutamide-treated groups (n = 5-10). Samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. Five-micrometer-thick sections were prepared immunohistochemically for AR, ERA, and ERB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During TD, ERB was expressed in L1-2 DRG. Surprisingly, AR was not expressed in prenatal DRG, only after P2. There was no ERA expression. Flutamide had no effect on AR, ERB, or ERA expression in the L1-2 DRG during TD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the E window of androgen sensitivity, the GFN is not directly masculinized, with little AR expression and no change with flutamide over this period. Estrogen receptor β is expressed in the DRG during TD. However, its relevance is yet to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Douglas Stephens Surgical Research Laboratory, MCRI, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nation
authors.forename: Silverton
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buraundi
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balic
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Southwell
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newgreen
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hutson
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D005485:Flutamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D005485:Flutamide