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Maternal Estrogen Receptor‐β Expression during Mouse Gestation
Author(s) -
SPONG C.Y.,
MCCUNE S.K.,
STERNBERG E.M.,
GUSTAFSSON J.A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.8755-8920.2000.440410.x
Subject(s) - estrogen receptor beta , estrogen receptor , gestation , estrogen , estrogen receptor alpha , in situ hybridization , biology , endocrinology , medicine , uterus , pregnancy , alpha (finance) , progesterone receptor , immunohistochemistry , receptor , andrology , messenger rna , gene , biochemistry , construct validity , nursing , cancer , breast cancer , patient satisfaction , genetics
PROBLEM: Although estrogen receptor (ER)‐α has been well characterized, the recently identified novel ER‐β has not. In some tissues, there is overlap of the ERs, which allows for rescue in cases of deficiency; in other tissues, the ERs appear to have opposite effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of ER‐β during pregnancy.
METHOD OF STUDY: Pregnant mouse uteri (embryonic days 6–14, 16, 18) were studied. ER‐α and ER‐β oligonucleotide probes were end‐labeled and in situ hybridization histochemistry was performed.
RESULTS: ER‐β was strongly expressed in maternal ovaries; there was no other evidence of strong expression during gestation. ER‐α was expressed in the uterus throughout gestation, with decreasing intensity as gestation progressed, and in maternal ovarian tissue.
CONCLUSIONS: Differential expression of the two ERs was apparent during pregnancy, with ER‐α playing a dominant role. This may have implications for selective drug treatment targeting estrogen receptors.