Estrogen receptor-alpha and neural circuits to the spinal cord during pregnancy.
Afferent/*metabolism; Animal/*physiology; Animals; Autonomic/anatomy & histology/metabolism; Blotting; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Estrogen/*biosynthesis; Estrogens/*physiology; Female; Ganglia; Immunohistochemistry; Neurons; Parturition/physiology; Pregnancy; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/*biosynthesis; Rats; Receptors; Sensory/anatomy & histology/metabolism; Spinal Cord/anatomy & histology/metabolism; Sprague-Dawley; Time Factors; Uterus/innervation; Western
Estrogen receptor immunoreactivity and mRNAs are present in spinal cord neurons in locations that are associated with sensory and autonomic innervation of female reproductive organs. The present study was undertaken to examine the expression of estrogen receptor-alpha in the spinal cord during different stages of pregnancy and to determine whether estrogen receptor-alpha-expressing neurons are related to uterine afferent nerves bringing information to the spinal cord at parturition. Immunohistochemistry showed estrogen receptor-alpha-immunoreactive neurons in the dorsal one-half of the spinal cord, i.e., dorsal horn, dorsal intermediate gray areas (dorsal commissural nucleus), and around the central canal and sacral parasympathetic autonomic nucleus of the lumbosacral spinal cord. Neurons in these areas corresponded topographically to the distribution of central processes of visceral primary afferent neurons (e.g., containing calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P) that innervate and activate second-order spinal cord neurons (evidenced by their expression of Fos) at parturition. Western blots showed that estrogen receptor-alpha increases in the spinal cord, with a peak at day 20 of gestation, followed by a slight decrease by 2 days postpartum. These studies show that estrogen receptor-alpha is expressed by neurons in autonomic and sensory areas of the lumbosacral spinal cord that have connections with the female reproductive system and that the level of estrogen receptor-alpha changes over the course of pregnancy, which may follow profiles of steroid hormones. Many of these neurons may be involved in processing information related to reproductive organ function, changes during pregnancy, and relays to other CNS centers.
Papka R E; Hafemeister J; Puder B A; Usip S; Storey-Workley M
Journal of neuroscience research
2002
2002-12
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.10421" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1002/jnr.10421</a>
Estrogen receptor-alpha and beta- immunoreactivity and mRNA in neurons of sensory and autonomic ganglia and spinal cord.
Female; Animals; Immunohistochemistry; Rats; Tissue Distribution; Ovariectomy; Spinal Cord/cytology/*metabolism; In Situ Hybridization; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Uterus/innervation; Estrogen Receptor beta; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/metabolism; Neurons/cytology/*metabolism; Nodose Ganglion/cytology/metabolism; Ganglia; Sprague-Dawley; Receptors; RNA; Messenger/*metabolism; Autonomic/cytology/*metabolism; Drug/metabolism; Estrogen/*analysis/immunology; Sensory/cytology/*metabolism; Spinal/cytology/metabolism
Estrogen receptor-alpha immunoreactivity and mRNAs are present in neurons in locales that innervate genital organs, e.g., parasympathetic pelvic autonomic ganglia, sensory dorsal root and nodose ganglia, and autonomic areas of the lumbosacral spinal cord. With the availability of probes for the beta-isoform of the estrogen receptor, we studied this receptor in autonomic, sensory, and spinal cord neurons and compared it with the distribution of the alpha-receptor. Estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta immunoreactivity were located in the nuclei of neurons, were in subpopulations of parasympathetic neurons in pelvic ganglia, and sensory neurons of dorsal root and nodose ganglia. Both receptor subtypes were present in the lumbosacral spinal cord: in neurons of the outer laminae of the dorsal horn, lateral collateral and medial collateral pathways, sacral parasympathetic nucleus, dorsal intermediate gray, and lamina X. Similar numbers of spinal cord neurons were immunoreactive for estrogen receptor-beta and estrogen receptor-alpha. However, estrogen receptor-beta-immunoreactive neurons appeared less numerous in the outer dorsal horn, but more numerous in the deeper layers of the spinal cord than estrogen receptor-alpha neurons. Retrograde tracing from the uterus revealed "uterine-related" neurons in dorsal root and pelvic ganglia that contained estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta. In situ hybridization revealed both estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta mRNA transcripts in sensory neurons of the dorsal root and nodose ganglia, parasympathetic neurons of pelvic ganglia, and spinal cord neurons in the dorsal horn, sacral parasympathetic nucleus, and dorsal intermediate gray of L6-S1 segments. These studies show that both estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta are synthesized by autonomic and sensory neurons in parts of the nervous system that have connections with the female reproductive system. Such neurons contain neurotransmitters that have important functions in the female reproductive organs; thus, it is likely that estrogen can influence the activity of such neurons and consequently, through them, the activities of the reproductive organs.
Papka R E; Storey-Workley M; Shughrue P J; Merchenthaler I; Collins J J; Usip S; Saunders P T; Shupnik M
Cell and tissue research
2001
2001-05
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta coexist in a subpopulation of sensory neurons of female rat dorsal root ganglia.
Female; Animals; Rats; Cell Count; *Sex Characteristics; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Estrous Cycle/*physiology; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Cell Nucleus/metabolism/ultrastructure; Estrogen Receptor beta; Estrogens/*metabolism; Ganglia; Neurons; Sprague-Dawley; Receptors; Spinal/cytology/*metabolism; Genitalia; Estrogen/*metabolism; Afferent/cytology/*metabolism; Female/innervation
Immunoreactivities for estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) and ER-beta are expressed in sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). It has not been established, however, if the two receptor subtypes coexist in the same neuron. Double-staining immunohistochemical techniques were used to determine if subpopulations of neurons in the lumbosacral DRG exist based on their content of ERs. Results indicate that some neurons (approximately 17%) of the L6-S1 DRG contain ER-alpha -, some (approximately 23%) contain ER-beta - immunoreactivity and some (approximately 5%) express immunoreactivity for both subtypes of the ER. These results suggest that many sensory neurons can respond to estrogens, but estrogens may produce different morphofunctional effects in different neurons based on their expression of ER subtypes.
Papka Raymond E; Storey-Workley Megan
Neuroscience letters
2002
2002-02
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).