Sex differences in androgen and estrogen receptor expression in rat substantia nigra during development : an immunohistochemical study

摘要: Gonadal hormones are important regulators of sexual differentiation the CNS. Exposure to testosterone and estrogen during development causes permanent organizational differences between males females. We previously described functional sex-related GABAAergic circuits rat substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) involved in control flurothyl seizures. This SNR is regulated by postnatal testosterone. To assess whether organizing effects mediated via androgen receptor (AR) and/or receptors (ER), we used immunohistochemistry study ontogeny AR, ERα ERβ expression compacta (SNC) male female rats. Rats on day birth [postnatal (PN) 0] at PN1, PN5, PN15 PN30 were used. AR- ERβ-immunopositive cells present SNC both sexes all ages. was not detected PN0–PN1. In (SN) regions, there developmentally sex immunoreactivity. SN, each showed specific intracellular localization: AR nucleus, nuclear extranuclear compartments. also processes. At PN0–PN1, quantitative analysis revealed regional distribution SN expressing ERα, while equally sexes. The presence gonadal steroid suggests that biological CNS extend beyond reproduction-related functions may affect modify motor behaviors (including seizures) a sex-specific manner. Based ERβ, hypothesize injections regulate nigral GABAA system through aromatization pathway activation ERβ.