Expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in the rat temporomandibular joint

摘要: Numerous epidemiological studies have pointed out a higher frequency of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in women than men, which indicates the involvement sex hormone, such as estrogen, pathogenesis TMD. Although estrogen is known to play pivotal roles osteoarthrosis or rheumatoid arthritis systemic joints, there been few reports about role joint (TMJ). The effect generally mediated by receptors (ERs) ERα (the predominant type) and ERβ. In this study we examined expression protein mRNA TMJ adult male rats immunocytochemistry situ hybridization histochemistry. Intense immunoreactivity was localized synovial lining cells, stromal cells articular disc, chondrocytes TMJ. These ERα-immunopositive are characteristic cytoplasmic processes identified with confocal immunoelectron microscopy, that they type B cells. histochemistry confirmed intense signals for sublining fibroblasts at levels. nuclei showed an immunoreaction maturative hypertrophic layers cartilage. addition nuclear localization ERα, weak appeared cytoplasm some ERα-positive findings support hypothesis tissue—at least rat—has potential be target tissue. Anat Rec Part A 274A:934–941, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.