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Female-specific target sites for both oestrogen and androgen in the teleost brain.

ABSTRACT: To dissect the molecular and cellular basis of sexual differentiation of the teleost brain, which maintains marked sexual plasticity throughout life, we examined sex differences in neural expression of all subtypes of nuclear oestrogen and androgen receptors (ER and AR) in medaka. All receptors were differentially expressed between the sexes in specific nuclei in the forebrain. The most pronounced sex differences were found in several nuclei in the ventral telencephalic and preoptic areas, where ER and AR expression were prominent in females but almost completely absent in males, indicating that these nuclei represent female-specific target sites for both oestrogen and androgen in the brain. Subsequent analyses revealed that the female-specific expression of ER and AR is not under the direct control of sex-linked genes but is instead regulated positively by oestrogen and negatively by androgen in a transient and reversible manner. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that sex-specific target sites for both oestrogen and androgen occur in the brain as a result of the activational effects of gonadal steroids. The consequent sex-specific but reversible steroid sensitivity of the adult brain probably contributes substantially to the process of sexual differentiation and the persistent sexual plasticity of the teleost brain.

SUBMITTER: Hiraki T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3497244 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Female-specific target sites for both oestrogen and androgen in the teleost brain.

Hiraki Towako T Takeuchi Akio A Tsumaki Takayasu T Zempo Buntaro B Kanda Shinji S Oka Yoshitaka Y Nagahama Yoshitaka Y Okubo Kataaki K

Proceedings. Biological sciences 20121017 1749

To dissect the molecular and cellular basis of sexual differentiation of the teleost brain, which maintains marked sexual plasticity throughout life, we examined sex differences in neural expression of all subtypes of nuclear oestrogen and androgen receptors (ER and AR) in medaka. All receptors were differentially expressed between the sexes in specific nuclei in the forebrain. The most pronounced sex differences were found in several nuclei in the ventral telencephalic and preoptic areas, where ...[more]

PMID: 23075834

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Project description:Amphibian metamorphosis is an excellent example of hormone-dependent control of development. Thyroid hormones (THs) regulate almost all aspects of metamorphosis, including brain development and larval neuroendocrine function. Sex steroids are also important for early brain function, although little is known about interactions between the two hormonal systems. In the present study, we established brain developmental profiles for thyroid hormone receptors (tralpha and trbeta), deiodinases (dio1, dio2 and dio3), aromatase (cyp19) mRNA and activity, oestrogen receptors (eralpha and erbeta), androgen receptor (ar) and 5alpha-reductases (srd5alpha1 and srd5alpha2) mRNA during Silurana (Xenopus) tropicalis metamorphosis. Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that all of the genes were expressed in the brain and for most of the genes expression increased during development, with the exception of dio2, srd5alpha1 and srd5alpha2. The ability of premetamorphic tadpoles to respond to exogenous THs was used to investigate the regulation of TH- and sex steroid-related genes in the brain during development. Exposure of premetamorphic tadpoles to triiodothyronine (T3; 0, 0.5, 5 and 50 nm) for 48 h resulted in concentration-dependent increases in trbeta, dio2, dio3, eralpha and erbeta. Expression of srd5alpha2 showed large increases (six- to 7.5-fold) for all three concentrations of T3. No changes were detected in dio1, ar and cyp19 transcript levels; however, cyp19 activity increased significantly at 50 nm T3. The results obtained suggest that expression of TH-related genes and er during development could be regulated by rising levels of THs, as previously documented in Lithobates (Rana) pipiens. The positive regulation of srd5alpha by T3 in the brain suggests that endogenous TH levels help maintain or control the rate at which srd5alpha mRNA levels decrease as metamorphosis progresses. Finally, we have identified sex steroid-related genes that are responsive to T3, providing additional evidence of crosstalk between THs and sex steroids in the tadpole brain.

Dataset Information

Female-specific target sites for both oestrogen and androgen in the teleost brain.

Publications

Female-specific target sites for both oestrogen and androgen in the teleost brain.

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