Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-6
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-8-2
pubmed:abstractText
The neurotrophic effects of oestrogen formed in the brain are important in brain sexual differentiation of the central nervous system and behaviour. Aromatase, converting testosterone to oestradiol-17beta, is a key enzyme involved in brain development. In primary cell cultures of foetal hypothalamus, we have found that male neurones consistently have higher aromatase activity than in the female. Using a specific antibody to the mouse aromatase, immunoreactivity was localized in the neural soma and neurites in hypothalamic cultures. Additionally more male foetal hypothalamus neurones express aromatase than in the female. Testosterone increases aromatase activity in parallel with a greater number of aromatase-immunoreactive neurones. Testosterone also increases soma size, neurite length, and branching of cultured hypothalamic neurones. The neuronal aromatase activity appears to be sensitive to the inductive effects of androgen only during the later stages of foetal development. Endogenous inhibitors of the aromatase are also likely to have a regulatory role. This work suggests that regulation of a network of aromatase neurones, sensitive to the hormonal environment of the hypothalamus, may determine when oestrogens are available for neurotrophic effects underlying brain differentiation.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0960-0760
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
69
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
85-96
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:articleTitle
Steroid metabolising enzymes in the determination of brain gender.
pubmed:affiliation
MRC Neuroendocrine Development and Behaviour Group, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK. jbhi@cus.cam.ac.uk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't