Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Vol. 49, 665-666, May 2001, Copyright © 2001, The Histochemical Society, Inc.
Differential Expression of Estradiol Receptors Alpha and Beta by Gonadotropes During the Estrous Cycle
Gwen V. Childsa,b,
Geda Unabiab, and
Spogmai Komakb
a Department of Anatomy, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Little Rock, Arkansas
b Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
Correspondence to:
Gwen V. Childs, Dept. of Anatomy, Univ. of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 510, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199.
This study focused on expression of estradiol receptors (ER) during the estrous cycle. Labeling for ER
or ß antigens and luteinizing hormone (LH) or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ß-subunits was done on freshly dispersed pituitary cells. The lowest expression of ER
and ß was seen in estrus (23% and 12%, respectively). Expression increased to 4254% of pituitary cells by diestrus. In males, cells with ER
or ß were 37% or 20% of the population, respectively. ER
or ß and gonadotropin antigens were in 69% of pituitary cells from male rats. Early in the cycle (estrus and metestrus), less than 5% of pituitary cells expressed ER
or ß with gonadotropins. These values doubled to reach a peak of 10% during proestrus (just before ovulation). These data show that a rise in expression of both ER
and ERß is a part of preovulatory differentiation of pituitary gonadotropes.
(J Histochem Cytochem 49:665666, 2001)
Key Words:
estrous cycle, estrogen receptors, pituitary cells, differentiation