Aromatase in the Cerebral Cortex, Hippocampus, and Mid-Brain: Ontogeny and Developmental Implications

MacLusky, Neil J.; Walters, Michael J.; Clark, Ann S.; Toran-Allerand, C. Dominique

doi:10.1006/mcne.1994.1083

Cited by 134 publications

(75 citation statements)

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“…For example, estrogen increased expression of aromatase in zebrafish brain, whereas DHT and testosterone were ineffective . In another study, androgens in the brain region regulated aromatase in a region-and gender-specific manner (MacLusky et al 1994). More studies are needed in future to identify the specific promoter and transcripts of penile aromatase and to determine in more detail the specific regulatory pathways of testosterone, DHT and estrogen.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Aromatase is abundantly expressed by neonatal rat penis but downregulated in adulthood

Jesmin¹,

Mowa²,

Sakuma³

et al. 2004

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology

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Although synthesis of estrogen by male gonads has been well documented for over half a century, it is only recently that the role of estrogen in male reproductive events has gained appreciation. We recently reported abundant expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-and -in different cell types of the rat penis, whose levels diminished with advancing age. The present study, which builds on data from the ER study, was designed to determine whether the penis is capable of generating its own local estrogen by examining evidence of the expression of aromatase, a microsomal enzymatic complex which irreversibly converts androgens to estrogens, using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, in situ hybridization and real-time PCR analyses. Secondly, the effects of sex steroid hormones on penile aromatase were examined. Discrete aromatase immunoreactive cells were localized in primordial corpus cavernosum, corpus spongiosus and os penis, blood vessels and sensory corpuscle of glans penis. In situ hybridization signals corresponded with immunohistochemical findings. Western blot, enzyme immunoassay and real-time PCR analyses of rat penile samples revealed an age-dependent expression of aromatase and estrogen, with levels at week 1 almost resembling those of the ovary, but they decreased sharply by week 8, and decreased further by week 35. This expression pattern was strikingly similar to that of ERreported previously. Testosterone and diethylstilbesterol administered prenatally upregulate levels of aromatase mRNA and protein, and estrogen postnatally. Dihydrotestosterone upregulated aromatase mRNA and protein, but not estrogen. We conclude that estrogen acts via ER in a paracrine and/or autocrine manner to regulate penile events, particularly during development, and that estrogen synthesis is regulated by estrogen and androgens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Aromatase is abundantly expressed by neonatal rat penis but downregulated in adulthood

Jesmin¹,

Mowa²,

Sakuma³

et al. 2004

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology

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“…However, in our study, males showed trend of poorer performances than females in Go/No-Go VRT correct response, time to complete the Go/No-Go VRT, ST normal and interference time and in working-memory average time. reason that testosterone is converted to oestrogen in many tissues, including the central nervous system, it could exert its influence directly or indirectly through its conversion to oestrogen via the aromatase enzyme [7,8]. However, there are different reports on the effects of testosterone and oestrogen on the cognitive profiles of males and females.…”

Section: Executive Task a Eriksen-flanker Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Cognitive Functions Between Male and Female Medical Students: A Pilot Study

Upadhayay¹

2014

JCDR

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“…One of the surprises was that treatment of neonatal females with exogenous estradiol, originally administered as a control for testosterone, also induced complete masculinization of brain and behavior [10,11]. We now understand that most sexually dimorphic areas of the brain contain substantial levels of both aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP19), the enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to estradiol, and high densities of estrogen receptors [12][13][14][15][16][17]. Maternal estrogens are sequestered in the peripheral circulation of the fetus by alphafetoprotein, a steroid-binding glycoprotein that has high affinity for estradiol but little affinity for androgens, allowing the testicular testosterone to reach and influence fetal target tissues, including the brain.…”

Section: The Importance Of Aromatization In Brain Sexual Differentiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cellular mechanisms of estradiol-mediated masculinization of the brain

Schwarz

McCarthy

2008

The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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The sexual differentiation of reproductive physiology and behavior in the rodent brain is largely determined by estradiol aromatized from testicular androgens. The cellular mechanisms by which estradiol masculinizes the brain are beginning to emerge and revealing novel features of brain development that are highly region specific. In the preoptic area, the major site controlling male sexual behavior, estradiol increases the level of the COX-2 enzyme and its product, prostaglandin E2 which promotes dendritic spine synaptogenesis. In the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, the major site controlling female reproductive behavior, estradiol promotes glutamate release from synaptic terminals, activating NMDA receptors and the MAP Kinase pathway. In the arcuate nucleus, a major regulator of anterior pituitary function, estradiol increases GABA synthesis, altering the morphology of neighboring astrocytes and reducing formation of dendritic spines synapses. Glutamate, GABA and the importance of neuronal-astrocytic cross talk are emerging as common aspects of masculinization. Advances are also being made in the mechanistic basis of female brain development, although the challenges are far greater.

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Aromatase in the Cerebral Cortex, Hippocampus, and Mid-Brain: Ontogeny and Developmental Implications

Cited by 134 publications

References 0 publications

Aromatase is abundantly expressed by neonatal rat penis but downregulated in adulthood

Aromatase is abundantly expressed by neonatal rat penis but downregulated in adulthood

Comparison of Cognitive Functions Between Male and Female Medical Students: A Pilot Study

Cellular mechanisms of estradiol-mediated masculinization of the brain

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