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Regional distribution of 5?-reductase type 2 in the adult rat brain: an immunohistochemical analysis.

ABSTRACT: The enzyme 5?-reductase (5?R) catalyzes the conversion of testosterone and other ?(4)-3-ketosteroids into their 5?-reduced metabolites. Of the five members of the 5?R family, the type 2 enzyme (5?R2) plays a key role in androgen metabolism, and is abundantly distributed in the urogenital system. Although 5?R2 has been reported to be highly expressed in the brain during early developmental stages, little is currently known on its anatomical and cellular distribution in the adult brain. Thus, the present study was designed to determine the detailed localization of 5?R2 in the adult rat brain, using a highly specific polyclonal antibody against this isoform. Parasagittal and coronal sections revealed 5?R2 immunoreactivity throughout most brain regions, with strong immunolabeling in the layers III and VI of the prefrontal and somatosensory cortex, olfactory bulb, thalamic nuclei, CA3 field of hippocampus, basolateral amygdala and Purkinje cell layer of cerebellum. Lower 5?R2 levels were detected in the hypothalamus and midbrain. Moreover, double labeling fluorescence with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that 5?R2 is localized in neurons, but not in glial cells. Specifically, the enzyme was documented in the pyramidal neurons of the cortex by CLSM analysis of simultaneous Golgi-Cox and immunofluorescent staining. Finally, low levels of 5?R2 expression were identified in GABAergic cells across the cortex, hippocampus and striatum. These findings show that, in the adult brain, 5?R2 is distributed in critical regions for behavioral regulation, suggesting that the functional role of this isoform is present throughout the entire lifespan of the individual.

SUBMITTER: Castelli MP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3762250 | biostudies-other | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Regional distribution of 5α-reductase type 2 in the adult rat brain: an immunohistochemical analysis.

Castelli M Paola MP Casti Alberto A Casu Angelo A Frau Roberto R Bortolato Marco M Spiga Saturnino S Ennas Maria Grazia MG

Psychoneuroendocrinology 20120708 2

The enzyme 5α-reductase (5αR) catalyzes the conversion of testosterone and other Δ(4)-3-ketosteroids into their 5α-reduced metabolites. Of the five members of the 5αR family, the type 2 enzyme (5αR2) plays a key role in androgen metabolism, and is abundantly distributed in the urogenital system. Although 5αR2 has been reported to be highly expressed in the brain during early developmental stages, little is currently known on its anatomical and cellular distribution in the adult brain. Thus, the ...[more]

PMID: 22776423

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Project description:In the avian brain, adult neurogenesis has been reported in the telencephalon of several species, but the functional significance of this trait is still ambiguous. Homing pigeons (Columba livia f.d.) are well-known for their navigational skills. Their brains are functionally adapted to homing with, e.g., larger hippocampi. So far, no comprehensive mapping of adult neuro- and gliogenesis or studies of different developmental neuronal stages in the telencephalon of homing pigeons exists, although comprehensive analyses in various species surely will result in a higher understanding of the functional significance of adult neurogenesis. Here, adult, free flying homing pigeons were treated with 5-bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label adult newborn cells. Brains were dissected and immunohistochemically processed with several markers (GFAP, Sox2, S100ß, Tbr2, DCX, Prox1, Ki67, NeuN, Calbindin, Calretinin) to study different stages of adult neurogenesis in a quantitative and qualitative way. Therefore, immature and adult newborn neurons and glial cells were analyzed along the anterior-posterior axis. The analysis proved the existence of different neuronal maturation stages and showed that immature cells, migrating neurons and adult newborn neurons and glia were widely and regionally unequally distributed. Double- and triple-labelling with developmental markers allowed a stage classification of adult neurogenesis in the pigeon brain (1: continuity of stem cells/proliferation, 2: fate specification, 3: differentiation/maturation, 4: integration). The most adult newborn neurons and glia were found in the intercalated hyperpallium (HI) and the hippocampal formation (HF). The highest numbers of immature (DCX+) cells were detected in the nidopallium (N). Generally, the number of newborn glial cells exceeded the number of newborn neurons. Individual structures (e.g., HI, N, and HF) showed further variations along the anterior-posterior axis. Our qualitative classification and the distribution of maturing cells in the forebrain support the idea that there is a functional specialization, respectively, that there is a link between brain-structure and function, species-specific requirements and adult neurogenesis. The high number of immature neurons also suggests a high level of plasticity, which points to the ability for rapid adaption to environmental changes through additive mechanisms. Furthermore, we discuss a possible influence of adult neurogenesis on spatial cognition.

Dataset Information

Regional distribution of 5?-reductase type 2 in the adult rat brain: an immunohistochemical analysis.

Publications

Regional distribution of 5α-reductase type 2 in the adult rat brain: an immunohistochemical analysis.

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