Prepubertal estrogen exposure modifies neurotrophin receptor expression in celiac neurons and alters ovarian innervation

Long-term Estradiol-17.BETA. Administration Decreases the Number of Neurons in the Caudal Mesenteric Ganglion Innervating the Ovary in Sexually Mature Gilts

“…It is difficult to explain why the numbers of noradrenergic perikarya decreased in the CaMGs of the gilts receiving E2, while the numbers of non-noradrenergic ones were not markedly changed. In spite of the fact that coexpression of ERs and particular substances has yet to be found in the neurons of the sympathetic ganglion, it seems possible that the differential effect of E2 on neurons depending on their chemical coding observed by us in the present study could have resulted from a varied density and cellular location of ERα and/or ERβ in the examined populations of neurons [12,13,16].…”

“…It is known that nerve fibers present in the CaMG originate also from the area of these ganglia, as was shown in gilts [3] and other female species as reviewed by Mawe [51]. Moreover, ERs, as mentioned above, are present in the population of peripheral autonomic and sensory ganglia in female rats [12,16,17,32].…”

“…Also, the ganglional sections with FB-labelled perikarya were incubated with antisera against ER subtype α (polyclonal rabbit against the C-terminus of ERα of mouse origin, sc-542, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA, USA, dilution 1:1000) and antisera against ER subtype β (monoclonal mouse against the human C-terminus region of the ERβ 1 isoform, MCA1974, AbD Serotec, Raleigh, NC, USA, dilution 1:20). According to previous reports, immunocytochemical detection revealed the nuclear as well as cytoplasmatic localization of ERs in the studied tissues [12,14,17,18].…”

“…Estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes α and β are localized in preand paravertebral (at thoracolumbar neuromeres) sympathetic neurons projecting to the ovary and uterus [12,13] and proximal urethra [14]. The number of celiac ganglion neurons innervating the rat ovary and the content of ERs in these cells decreased after prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure [15].…”

“…The number of celiac ganglion neurons innervating the rat ovary and the content of ERs in these cells decreased after prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure [15]. In turn, prepubertal β-estradiol-17-cypionate treatment increased the neuronal size in the rat celiac ganglion [12]. In female rats, DRG sensory neurons in L6-S1 segments that innervate the uterus [16,17] and urinary bladder [18] also express ER subtypes α and β.…”