title: Immunohistochemical profiling of estrogen-related receptor gamma in rat brain and colocalization with estrogen receptor alpha in the preoptic area.
abstract: Estrogen-related receptor (ERR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that has strong homology with estrogen receptor (ER) α. Despite the lack of endogenous ligands, ERR serves as transcription factors through their constitutively active structure with or without interaction with ERα. Among the three subtypes of ERR (α, β, and γ), ERRγ is highly expressed in brain, but the distribution of ERRγ is poorly characterized. Therefore, we investigated ERRγ immunoreactivity throughout the rostro-caudal axis in rat brain. Immunohistochemistry revealed localization of ERRγ protein in the cell nucleus, and a ubiquitous distribution of ERRγ in brain regions including the olfactory bulb, cerebrum, brain stem, and cerebellum. Selective intense immunoreactivity was observed in the reticular thalamic nucleus, zona incerta, circular nucleus, interpeduncular nucleus, pontine nucleus, and parasolitary nucleus. Most ERRγ-immunoreactive (ir) regions were also positive for ERα and/or ERβ, which suggests that ERRγ is involved in modulation of estrogen signaling in adult rat brain. Double immunofluorescence demonstrated colocalization of ERRγ with ERα within the anteroventral periventricular nucleus of the preoptic area (AVPV) and medial preoptic nucleus (MPO), which are major target sites for estrogen action. The results of this study suggest that ERRγ function in the brain is affected by estrogens through an interaction with ERα. The findings also provide basic information on brain region-specific ERRγ function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan. Electronic address: t-tanida@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanida
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken Ichi
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Bukkyo University, 96, Kitahananobo-cho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8301, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D019556:COS Cells; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; C425824:estrogen receptor gamma
keywords: Double immunofluorescence (IF); Estrogen receptor (ER) α; Estrogen-related receptor (ERR) γ; Immunohistochemistry