Coumestrol Antagonizes Neuroendocrine Actions of Estrogen via the Estrogen Receptor α

摘要: The phytoestrogen coumestrol has estrogenic actions on peripheral reproductive tissues. Yet in the brain this compound both and anti-estrogenic effects. We used estrogen receptor α knockout mice (ERαKO) to determine whether also if these effects are mediated by classic ERα. Female wild-type (WT) ERαKO were ovariectomized treated with estradiol (E2), dietary coumestrol, both, or neither compound. Ten days later animals sacrificed, blood was collected, tissues perfused. Fixed brains sectioned immunocytochemistry employed quantify progesterone receptors (PR) medial preoptic (POA) ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMN). Plasma assayed for luteinizing hormone (LH). Estrogen treatment induced PR immunoreactivity regions WT females. In mice, lower levels induced. stimulatory E2 attenuated POA cotreatm...