Distribution and estrogen regulation of membrane progesterone receptor-β in the female rat brain.
Submitted by Mario G Oyola on
Title | Distribution and estrogen regulation of membrane progesterone receptor-β in the female rat brain. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Zuloaga, DG, Yahn, SL, Pang, Y, Quihuis, AM, Oyola, MG, Reyna, A, Thomas, P, Handa, RJ, Mani, SK |
Journal | Endocrinology |
Volume | 153 |
Issue | 9 |
Pagination | 4432-43 |
Date Published | 2012 Sep |
ISSN | 1945-7170 |
Keywords | Animals, Brain, Estradiol, Female, Immunohistochemistry, Ovariectomy, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, Progesterone |
Abstract | Although several studies have reported the localization of membrane progesterone (P(4)) receptors (mPR) in various tissues, few have attempted to describe the distribution and regulation of these receptors in the brain. In the present study, we investigated expression of two mPR subtypes, mPRα and mPRβ, within regions of the brain, known to express estradiol (E(2))-dependent [preoptic area (POA) and hypothalamus] and independent (cortex) classical progestin receptors. Saturation binding and Scatchard analyses on plasma membranes prepared from rat cortex, hypothalamus, and POA demonstrated high-affinity, specific P(4)-binding sites characteristic of mPR. Using quantitative RT-PCR, we found that mPRβ mRNA was expressed at higher levels than mPRα, indicating that mPRβ may be the primary mPR subtype in the rat brain. We also mapped the distribution of mPRβ protein using immunohistochemistry. The mPRβ-immunoreactive neurons were highly expressed in select nuclei of the hypothalamus (paraventricular nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamus, and arcuate nucleus), forebrain (medial septum and horizontal diagonal band), and midbrain (oculomotor and red nuclei) and throughout many areas of the cortex and thalamus. Treatment of ovariectomized female rats with E(2) benzoate increased mPRβ immunoreactivity within the medial septum but not the medial POA, horizontal diagonal band, or oculomotor nucleus. Together, these findings demonstrate a wide distribution of mPRβ in the rodent brain that may contribute to functions affecting behavioral, endocrine, motor, and sensory systems. Furthermore, E(2) regulation of mPRβ indicates a mechanism through which estrogens can regulate P(4) function within discrete brain regions to potentially impact behavior. |
DOI | 10.1210/en.2012-1469 |
Alternate Journal | Endocrinology |
PubMed ID | 22778216 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3423618 |
Grant List | ES012961 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States R01 HD062512 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States HD62512 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States MH082679 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States P50 MH082679 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States R01 NS039951 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States R01 ES012961 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States R25 GM069234 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States NS039951 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States |