The Effects of Dopamine and Estrogen upon Cortical Parvalbumin Expression

Abstract

Physiology and Genetics, and the Neuroscience ProgramEstrogen plays a protective role in several neurologic disorders known to involve alterations in both the dopamine system and (gamma amino butyric acid containing) GABAergic neurons that contain parvalbumin. Two studies were conducted to identify the effects of estrogen and dopamine upon cortical parvalbumin expression. In the first study, organotypic slice cultures of the frontal cortex were prepared from male rats (postnatal age 2/3) and maintained for 14 days in serum-enriched medium or media containing either: dopamine, estrogen, or a combination of the two. In control slices, parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons were primarily clustered near cortical layer V. All treatment conditions increased the distribution of parvalbumin labeled neurons in layer VI and enhanced the maturation of dendritic measures of labeled neurons in the deep layers (V-VI). Both estrogen and the combination treatment induced similar alterations in the superficial cortical layers, as well. In the second study, gonadectomy (male rats, postnatal age 2) induced long lasting decreased in the density of parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons throughout all cortical layers. Estrogen replacement restored parvalbumin expression to control levels in the superficial cortical layers, only. Gonadectomy also Report Documentation PageForm Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. Estrogen plays a protective role in several neurologic disorders known to involve alterations in both the dopamine system and (gamma amino butyric acid containing) GABAergic neurons that contain parvalbumin. Two studies were conducted to identify the effects of estrogen and dopamine upon cortical parvalbumin expression. In the first study, organotypic slice cultures of the frontal cortex were prepared from male rats (postnatal age 2/3) and maintained for 14 days in serum-enriched medium or media containing either: dopamine, estrogen, or a combination of the two. In control slices, parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons were primarily clustered near cortical layer V. All treatment conditions increased the distribution of parvalbumin labeled neurons in layer VI and enhanced the maturation of dendritic measures of labeled neurons in the deep layers (V-VI). Both estrog...