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Selective Oestrogen Receptor Agonists Rescued Hippocampus Parameters in Male Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Author(s) -
Pietranera L.,
Correa J.,
Brocca M. E.,
Roig P.,
Lima A.,
Di Giorgio N.,
GarciaSegura L. M.,
De Nicola A. F.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/jne.12415
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , dentate gyrus , astrogliosis , subgranular zone , doublecortin , neurogenesis , hippocampus , aromatase , brain derived neurotrophic factor , neuroprotection , glial fibrillary acidic protein , neurotrophic factors , biology , chemistry , receptor , progenitor cell , central nervous system , neuroscience , immunohistochemistry , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , breast cancer , subventricular zone
Spontaneously hypertensive rats ( SHR ) show pronounced hippocampus alterations, including low brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, reduced neurogenesis, astrogliosis and increased aromatase expression. These changes are reverted by treatment with 17β‐oestradiol. To determine which oestradiol receptor ( ER ) type is involved in these neuroprotective effects, we used agonists of the ER α [propylpyrazole triol ( PPT )] and the ER β [diarylpropionitrite ( DPN )] given over 2 weeks to 4‐month‐old male SHR . Wistar Kyoto normotensive rats served as controls. Using immunocytochemistry, we determined glial fibrillary protein (GFAP)+ astrocytes in the CA 1, CA 3 and hilus of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, aromatase immunostaining in the hilus, and doublecortin ( DCX )+ neuronal progenitors in the inner granular zone of the dentate gyrus. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor mRNA was also measured in the hippocampus by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In SHR, PPT had no effect on blood pressure, decreased astrogliosis, slightly increased BDNF mRNA , had no effect on the number of DCX + progenitors, and increased aromatase staining. Treatment with DPN decreased blood pressure, decreased astrogliosis, increased BDNF mRNA and DCX + progenitors, and did not modify aromatase staining. We hypothesise that, although both receptor types may participate in the previously reported beneficial effects of 17β‐oestradiol in SHR , receptor activation with DPN may preferentially facilitate BDNF mRNA expression and neurogenesis. The results of the present study may help in the design of ER ‐based neuroprotection for the encephalopathy of hypertension.