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Shay DA, Welly RJ, Givan SA, Bivens N, Kanaley J, Marshall BL, Lubahn DB, Rosenfeld CS, Vieira-Potter VJ. Changes in nucleus accumbens gene expression accompany sex-specific suppression of spontaneous physical activity in aromatase knockout mice. Horm Behav 2020; 121:104719. [PMID: 32081742 PMCID: PMC7387966 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Aromatase catalyzes conversion of testosterone to estradiol and is expressed in a variety of tissues, including the brain. Suppression of aromatase adversely affects metabolism and physical activity behavior, but mechanisms remain uncertain. The hypothesis tested herein was that whole body aromatase deletion would cause gene expression changes in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain regulating motivated behaviors such as physical activity, which is suppressed with loss of estradiol. Metabolic and behavioral assessments were performed in male and female wild-type (WT) and aromatase knockout (ArKO) mice. NAc-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified with RNAseq, and associations between the measured phenotypic traits were determined. Female ArKO mice had greater percent body fat, reduced spontaneous physical activity (SPA), consumed less energy, and had lower relative resting energy expenditure (REE) than WT females. Such differences were not observed in ArKO males. However, in both sexes, a top DEG was Pts, a gene encoding an enzyme necessary for catecholamine (e.g., dopamine) biosynthesis. In comparing male and female WT mice, top DEGs were related to sexual development/fertility, immune regulation, obesity, dopamine signaling, and circadian regulation. SPA correlated strongly with Per3, a gene regulating circadian function, thermoregulation, and metabolism (r = -0.64, P = .002), which also correlated with adiposity (r = 0.54, P = .01). In conclusion, aromatase ablation leads to gene expression changes in NAc, which may in turn result in reduced SPA and related metabolic abnormalities. These findings may have significance to post-menopausal women and those treated with an aromatase inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dusti A Shay
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA
| | - Rebecca J Welly
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA
| | - Scott A Givan
- Informatics Research Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA
| | - Nathan Bivens
- DNA Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA
| | - Jill Kanaley
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA
| | - Brittney L Marshall
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA; Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA
| | - Dennis B Lubahn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Child Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Cheryl S Rosenfeld
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA; Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA; Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA; MU Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA
| | - Victoria J Vieira-Potter
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, MO, USA.
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2
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Abdel-Aleem GA, Shafik NM, El-Magd MA, Mohamed DA. Soya bean rich diet is associated with adult male rat aggressive behavior: relation to RF amide-related peptide 3-aromatase-neuroestrogen pathway in the brain. Metab Brain Dis 2019; 34:1103-1115. [PMID: 31134480 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-019-00431-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Relation between soya bean (SB) consumption and aggressive behavior has not been elucidated yet. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of large amount of SB consumption on adult male rats' aggressive behavior through investigating changes in the expression of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone/ RF amide-related peptide 3 (GnIH/RFRP3), neuropeptide FF receptor, cytochrome P450, family 19, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (Cyp19A1), estrogen receptors α and β and the levels of neuroestrogen, dopamine, glutamate and testosterone as well as aromatase activity in the brain. Adult male rats were divided into three equal groups: group I, control group, received standard diet; group II and group III received 25% and 50% SB of their standard diet contents, respectively, for 12 weeks. The obtained results showed that feeding male rats with large amount of SB could induce aggressive behavior in a dose dependant manner possibly through inhibition of brain GnIH/RFRP-aromatase-neuroestrogen pathway. These effects may be through decreasing aromatase activity, neuroestrogen concentration, Cyp19A1 and ER β mRNA levels and increasing ER α mRNA levels and immunostaining as well as testosterone, dopamine and glutamate levels in the brain. These findings also provide further support for the inhibitory role of RFRP3 on aggressive behavior of male rats. These data may open new avenues for the potential harmful effects of consumption large amounts of SB rich food on humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada A Abdel-Aleem
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Noha M Shafik
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt, Tanta, Egypt.
| | - Mohammed A El-Magd
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.
| | - Darin A Mohamed
- Department of Histopathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt, Tanta, Egypt
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3
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Honma N, Saji S, Mikami T, Yoshimura N, Mori S, Saito Y, Murayama S, Harada N. Estrogen-Related Factors in the Frontal Lobe of Alzheimer's Disease Patients and Importance of Body Mass Index. Sci Rep 2017; 7:726. [PMID: 28389656 PMCID: PMC5429714 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00815-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogens play a physiologically important role in the brain, but controversies exist regarding the association between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and estrogens. Estrogen-related factors were comprehensively examined in frontal lobe tissues from autopsied AD patients, and compared with controls. Concentrations of estrogens, expression of estrogen receptors (ERs), and estrogen-metabolizing enzymes (EMEs) which are important for determining the peripheral estrogen concentrations, were examined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. Body mass index (BMI), known to correlate with the serum estrogen concentrations, was also taken into consideration. There were no significant differences in estrogen concentrations or each EME level between the two groups in both the cortex and white matter, whereas glial nuclear ER-β expression was significantly lower in white matter from the AD group than the control group (Allred score, 3.2 ± 0.3 and 6.5 ± 0.3, respectively. P < 0.0001). Estrogen concentrations were found to closely correlate with BMI, particularly in controls. ER-β loss in the white matter from the AD group suggests the necessity of studying the effects of estrogens on glias as well as neurons in the etiology of AD. The correlation between BMI and estrogen concentrations in the frontal lobe suggests the importance of non-brain sources of estrogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Honma
- Department of Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-Nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8540, Japan.
| | - Shigehira Saji
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fukushima Medical University, Hikariga-oka 1, Fukushima City, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Tetuo Mikami
- Department of Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Omori-Nishi 5-21-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 143-8540, Japan
| | - Noriko Yoshimura
- Department of Biochemistry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Dengakugakubo 1-98, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Seijiro Mori
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Sakaecho 35-2, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Ogawa-Higashi 4-1-1, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Sakaecho 35-2, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-0015, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Harada
- Department of Biochemistry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Dengakugakubo 1-98, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, 470-1192, Japan
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4
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Ryan NP, Catroppa C, Godfrey C, Noble-Haeusslein LJ, Shultz SR, O'Brien TJ, Anderson V, Semple BD. Social dysfunction after pediatric traumatic brain injury: A translational perspective. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 64:196-214. [PMID: 26949224 PMCID: PMC5627971 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Social dysfunction is common after traumatic brain injury (TBI), contributing to reduced quality of life for survivors. Factors which influence the development or persistence of social deficits after injury remain poorly understood, particularly in the context of ongoing brain maturation during childhood and adolescence. Aberrant social interactions have recently been modeled in adult and juvenile rodents after experimental TBI, providing an opportunity to gain new insights into the underlying neurobiology of these behaviors. Here, we review our current understanding of social dysfunction in both humans and rodent models of TBI, with a focus on brain injuries acquired during early development. Modulators of social outcomes are discussed, including injury-related and environmental risk and resilience factors. Disruption of social brain network connectivity and aberrant neuroendocrine function are identified as potential mechanisms of social impairments after pediatric TBI. Throughout, we highlight the overlap and disparities between outcome measures and findings from clinical and experimental approaches, and explore the translational potential of future research to prevent or ameliorate social dysfunction after childhood TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P Ryan
- Australian Centre for Child Neuropsychological Studies, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Cathy Catroppa
- Australian Centre for Child Neuropsychological Studies, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Psychology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Celia Godfrey
- Australian Centre for Child Neuropsychological Studies, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Linda J Noble-Haeusslein
- Departments of Neurological Surgery and Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Sandy R Shultz
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Vicki Anderson
- Australian Centre for Child Neuropsychological Studies, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Psychology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Bridgette D Semple
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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5
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Bayless DW, Shah NM. Genetic dissection of neural circuits underlying sexually dimorphic social behaviours. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2016; 371:20150109. [PMID: 26833830 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique hormonal, genetic and epigenetic environments of males and females during development and adulthood shape the neural circuitry of the brain. These differences in neural circuitry result in sex-typical displays of social behaviours such as mating and aggression. Like other neural circuits, those underlying sex-typical social behaviours weave through complex brain regions that control a variety of diverse behaviours. For this reason, the functional dissection of neural circuits underlying sex-typical social behaviours has proved to be difficult. However, molecularly discrete neuronal subpopulations can be identified in the heterogeneous brain regions that control sex-typical social behaviours. In addition, the actions of oestrogens and androgens produce sex differences in gene expression within these brain regions, thereby highlighting the neuronal subpopulations most likely to control sexually dimorphic social behaviours. These conditions permit the implementation of innovative genetic approaches that, in mammals, are most highly advanced in the laboratory mouse. Such approaches have greatly advanced our understanding of the functional significance of sexually dimorphic neural circuits in the brain. In this review, we discuss the neural circuitry of sex-typical social behaviours in mice while highlighting the genetic technical innovations that have advanced the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Bayless
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Nirao M Shah
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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6
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Ubuka T, Tsutsui K. Review: neuroestrogen regulation of socio-sexual behavior of males. Front Neurosci 2014; 8:323. [PMID: 25352775 PMCID: PMC4195287 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is thought that estrogen (neuroestrogen) synthesized by the action of aromatase in the brain from testosterone activates male socio-sexual behaviors, such as aggression and sexual behavior in birds. We recently found that gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH), a hypothalamic neuropeptide, inhibits socio-sexual behaviors of male quail by directly activating aromatase and increasing neuroestrogen synthesis in the preoptic area (POA). The POA is thought to be the most critical site of aromatization and neuroestrogen action for the regulation of socio-sexual behavior of male birds. We concluded that GnIH inhibits socio-sexual behaviors of male quail by increasing neuroestrogen concentration beyond its optimal concentration in the brain for expression of socio-sexual behavior. On the other hand, it has been reported that dopamine and glutamate, which stimulate male socio-sexual behavior in birds and mammals, inhibit the activity of aromatase in the POA. Multiple studies also report that the activity of aromatase or neuroestrogen is negatively correlated with changes in male socio-sexual behavior in fish, birds, and mammals including humans. Here, we review previous studies that investigated the role of neuroestrogen in the regulation of male socio-sexual behavior and reconsider the hypothesis that neuroestrogen activates male socio-sexual behavior in vertebrates. It is considered that basal concentration of neuroestrogen is required for the maintenance of male socio-sexual behavior but higher concentration of neuroestrogen may inhibit male socio-sexual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kazuyoshi Tsutsui
- Department of Biology and Center for Medical Life Science, Waseda UniversityShinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
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7
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Onakomaiya MM, Porter DM, Oberlander JG, Henderson LP. Sex and exercise interact to alter the expression of anabolic androgenic steroid-induced anxiety-like behaviors in the mouse. Horm Behav 2014; 66:283-97. [PMID: 24768711 PMCID: PMC4127168 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2013] [Revised: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are taken by both sexes to enhance athletic performance and body image, nearly always in conjunction with an exercise regime. Although taken to improve physical attributes, chronic AAS use can promote negative behavior, including anxiety. Few studies have directly compared the impact of AAS use in males versus females or assessed the interaction of exercise and AAS. We show that AAS increase anxiety-like behaviors in female but not male mice and that voluntary exercise accentuates these sex-specific differences. We also show that levels of the anxiogenic peptide corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) are significantly greater in males, but that AAS selectively increase CRF levels in females, thus abrogating this sex-specific difference. Exercise did not ameliorate AAS-induced anxiety or alter CRF levels in females. Exercise was anxiolytic in males, but this behavioral outcome did not correlate with CRF levels. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has also been implicated in the expression of anxiety. As with CRF, levels of hippocampal BDNF mRNA were significantly greater in males than females. AAS and exercise were without effect on BDNF mRNA in females. In males, anxiolytic effects of exercise correlated with increased BDNF mRNA, however AAS-induced changes in BDNF mRNA and anxiety did not. In sum, we find that AAS elicit sex-specific differences in anxiety and that voluntary exercise accentuates these differences. In addition, our data suggest that these behavioral outcomes may reflect convergent actions of AAS and exercise on a sexually differentiated CRF signaling system within the extended amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie M Onakomaiya
- Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, Hinman Box 7701, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Donna M Porter
- Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, Hinman Box 7701, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Joseph G Oberlander
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Drive, Hogan 2-160, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Leslie P Henderson
- Department of Physiology & Neurobiology, Hinman Box 7701, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
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8
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Chow JDY, Price JT, Bills MM, Simpson ER, Boon WC. A doxycycline-inducible, tissue-specific aromatase-expressing transgenic mouse. Transgenic Res 2011; 21:415-28. [PMID: 21614586 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-011-9525-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2010] [Accepted: 05/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Aromatase converts androgens to estrogens and it is expressed in gonads and non-reproductive tissues (e.g. brain and adipose tissues). As circulating levels of estrogens in males are low, we hypothesize that local estrogen production is important for the regulation of physiological functions (e.g. metabolism) and pathological development (e.g. breast and prostate cancers) by acting in a paracrine and/or intracrine manner. We generated a tissue-specific doxycycline-inducible, aromatase transgenic mouse to test this hypothesis. The transgene construct (pTetOAROM) consists of a full-length human aromatase cDNA (hAROM) and a luciferase gene under the control of a bi-directional tetracycline-responsive promoter (pTetO), which is regulated by transactivators (rtTA or tTA) and doxycycline. Our in vitro studies using MBA-MB-231tet cells stably expressing rtTA, showed that doxycycline treatment induced transgene expression of hAROM transcripts by 17-fold (P = 0.01), aromatase activity by 26-fold, (P = 0.0008) and luciferase activity by 9.6-fold (P = 0.0006). Pronuclear microinjection of the transgene generated four pTetOAROM founder mice. A male founder was bred with a female mammary gland-specific rtTA mouse (MMTVrtTA) to produce MMTVrtTA-pTetOAROM double-transgenic mice. Upon doxycycline treatment via drinking water, human aromatase expression was detected by RT-PCR, specifically in mammary glands, salivary glands and seminal vesicles of double-stransgenic mice. Luciferase expression and activity was detected in these tissues by in vivo bioluminescence imaging, in vitro luciferase assay and RT-PCR. In summary, we generated a transgenic mouse model that expresses the human aromatase transgene in a temporal- and spatial-specific manner, which will be a useful model to study the physiological importance of local estrogen production.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Aromatase/genetics
- Aromatase/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/metabolism
- Doxycycline/administration & dosage
- Doxycycline/pharmacology
- Enzyme Activation
- Enzyme Assays
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Genetic Vectors/metabolism
- Humans
- Luciferases, Firefly/genetics
- Luciferases, Firefly/metabolism
- Luminescent Measurements/methods
- Male
- Mammary Glands, Human/cytology
- Mammary Glands, Human/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Microinjections
- Plasmids/genetics
- Plasmids/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Salivary Glands/cytology
- Salivary Glands/metabolism
- Seminal Vesicles/cytology
- Seminal Vesicles/metabolism
- Transgenes
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9
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Abstract
Aromatase is the enzyme that catalyzes the last step of estrogen biosynthesis. It is expressed in many tissues such as the gonads, brain and adipose tissue. The regulation of the level and activity of aromatase determines the levels of estrogens that have endocrine, paracrine and autocrine effects on tissues. Estrogens play many roles in the body, regulating reproduction, metabolism and behavior. In the brain, cell survival and the activity of neurons are affected by estrogens and hence aromatase.
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