Effect of 17β-estradiol on hypothalamic GnRH-II gene expression in the female rhesus macaque

V. S. Densmore, H. F. Urbanski

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7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hypothalamus of rhesus macaques expresses two molecular forms of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH-I and GnRH-II). However, it is unclear whether these two neuropeptides play similar roles in the control of reproductive neuroendocrine function, especially in the context of positive and negative estrogen feedback. To address this issue, in situ hybridization histochemistry was used to compare the effect of 17β-estradiol (E) on the expression of GnRH-I and GnRH-II mRNA in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) of adult female macaques. GnRH-I mRNA expression was found to be significantly (P<0·01) more abundant in ovariectomized (ovx) animals compared with ovariectomized E-treated (ovx+E) animals. In marked contrast, GnRH-II mRNA expression was found to be significantly (P<0·05) more abundant in ovx+E animals than in the ovx animals. To help elucidate how E exerts this stimulatory action on GnRH-II gene expression, hypothalamic sections were subsequently double labeled using a combination of immunohistochemisty for estrogen receptor (ER) -α or -β and in situ hybridization histochemistry for GnRH-II. Approximately 50% of the GnRH-II positive cells in the MBH were found to express ERβ, but none expressed ERα. Taken together, these data give credence to a novel pathway by which E may control the primate neuroendocrine reproductive axis, one that involves stimulation of GnRH-II release via an ERβ-mediated mechanism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)145-153
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of molecular endocrinology
Volume33
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology

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