title: Sex differences in spatiotemporal expression of AR, ERα, and ERβ mRNA in the perinatal mouse brain.
abstract: It has been shown that every masculinized function might be organized by a particular contribution of androgens vs. estrogens in a critical time window. Here, we aimed to investigate the sex differences in brain testosterone levels and in the spatiotemporal dynamics of steroid receptor mRNA expression in perinatal mice, by using enzyme immunoassay and real-time PCR, respectively. We found that testosterone levels in the forebrain transiently increased around birth in male mice. During the perinatal period, levels of androgen receptor mRNA in the hypothalamus (hypo) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were higher in male mice than in female mice. Estrogen receptor α (ERα) mRNA levels in the hypo and hippocampus were higher in male mice than in female mice before birth. In contrast, ERβ mRNA expression in the PFC was higher in female mice immediately after birth. These spatiotemporal sex differences in steroid receptor expression might contribute to organizing sex differences of not only reproductive function, but also anxiety, stress responses, and cognition in mice.
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mogi
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takanashi
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara 252-5201, Japan. Electronic address: kikusui@azabu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takefumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikusui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: AR; ERα; ERβ; Mice; Perinatal period; Sex differences