Neuroscience 2002 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 288.5 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Estrogen receptor-β gene expression in the mouse brain during the postpartum period. |
| Authors: |
Mirasol, E. G.*1
; Nomura, M.1
; Pfaff, D. W.1
; Ogawa, S.1
1Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, Rockefeller University, New York, NY |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Cognition and Behavior - Aggression |
| Session: |
288. Aggression II Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, November 4, 2002 8:00 AM-9:00 AM |
| Location: | Hall A2-B3 R-25 |
| Keywords: | Oxytocin, paraventricular nucleus, maternal aggression, anxiety |
There is accumulating evidence suggesting that estrogen receptor (ER)-β may play a role different from ER-α in the regulation of various social behaviors in both sexes. Recently, we found that ER-β knockout (βERKO) female mice showed greatly elevated levels of postpartum aggression toward male intruder mice (Le et al., SFN abstract 2002). This finding suggests that ER-β may be involved in the regulation of postpartum aggression in mice. However, the profile of ER-β gene expression in mouse brain during the postpartum period remains unclear. Thus, we examined the expression of ER-β gene in female mice on postpartum days (PPD) 1, 5, 9, and 25 in four forebrain regions; the medial preoptic area (MPOA), the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and the amygdala (AMY), in which ER-β is known to be abundant. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed that the ER-β gene expression in the MPOA gradually increased. In the PVN and the BNST, it increased between PPD-1 and 5, peaked on PPD-9, and then decreased on PPD-25. In contrast, in the AMY, there were no changes in the ER-β gene expression throughout the postpartum period studied. These results suggest that the expression of ER-β gene fluctuated during postpartum period in a region specific manner. Since it is known that ER-β is responsible for estrogenic regulation of oxytocin gene expression in the PVN in male mice (McKenna, et al., SFN abstract, 2002) and brain oxytocin levels peak around PPD-9, ER-β dependent action of estrogen may be involved in the regulation of oxytocin gene expression and its behavioral functions during the postpartum period.
Supported by MH 62147 to SO.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2002 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Orlando, FL: Society for Neuroscience, 2002. Online.
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