Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 276, Issue 2, 3 December 1999, Pages 95-98
Neuroscience Letters

Expression of estrogen receptor-α and β mRNA in the developing and adult mouse striatum

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(99)00815-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Estrogen not only modulates nigrostriatal function but also developmental processes in the striatum. Recently, we have demonstrated the presence of the estrogen-synthesizing enzyme aromatase in the developing mouse striatum. This study is concerned with the expression of estrogen receptor-α/β (ER) mRNA in the developing and adult mouse striatum by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Expression of both ER subtypes occurred already prenatally and further increased until birth. Early postnatally, ER-α/β levels remained high but decreased to lower levels in adults. No sex difference in ER expression was observed. These data together with our previous findings demonstrate the simultaneous expression of both ER subtypes and aromatase in the mouse striatum. It is concluded that estrogen signalling through both nuclear receptors plays a potential role for striatal differentiation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of M. Karolczak and G. Noack. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Be 1444/2-2).

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