Abstract
Progesterone participates in the regulation of developmental processes in the brain and controls the function of distinct neural circuits. We have studied the expression of progesterone receptor (PR) isoforms in the developing and adult male and female mouse ventral midbrain. Transcripts of both receptor isoforms (PR-A and B) were detectable pre- and postnatally but regulated differentially during ontogeny. Immunoblotting revealed that only the full-length form (PR-B) is transcribed transiently into protein, whereas the truncated PR-A isoform is not detectable as protein. Although the precise function of progesterone in the developing CNS is not fully understood, our data implicate a potential role for PR signaling for the developing nigrostriatal system.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Cell Differentiation / physiology*
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Female
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Fetus
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology*
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Neural Pathways / embryology
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Neural Pathways / growth & development
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Neural Pathways / metabolism
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Pregnancy
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Progesterone / metabolism*
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Protein Isoforms / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Receptors, Progesterone / genetics*
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Reproduction / physiology
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Sex Characteristics
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Substantia Nigra / embryology*
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Substantia Nigra / growth & development
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Substantia Nigra / metabolism
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Ventral Tegmental Area / embryology*
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Ventral Tegmental Area / growth & development
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Ventral Tegmental Area / metabolism
Substances
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Protein Isoforms
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Progesterone
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progesterone receptor A
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progesterone receptor B
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Progesterone