Distribution of Androgen Receptor-Immunoreactive Cells in the Quail Forebrain and Their Relationship with Aromatase Immunoreactivity

[en] The distribution of androgen receptor-like immunoreactive (AR-ir) cells in the quail brain was analyzed by immunocytochemistry with the use of the affinity-purified antibody PG-21-19A raised against a synthetic peptide representing the first 21 N-terminal amino acids of the rat and human AR. This antibody is known to bind to the receptor in the absence as well as in the presence of endogenous ligands, and it was therefore expected that a more complete and accurate characterization of AR-ir cells would be obtained in comparison with previous studies using an antibody that preferentially recognizes the occupied receptor. Selected sections were double labeled for aromatase (ARO) by a technique that uses alkaline phosphatase as the reporter enzyme and Fast blue as the chromogen. AR-ir material was detected in the nucleus of cells located in a variety of brain areas in the preoptic region and the hypothalamus including the medial preoptic (POM), the supraoptic, the paraventricular (PVN), and the ventromedial (VMN) nuclei, but also in the tuberculum olfactorium, the nucleus accumbens/ventral striatum, the nucleus taeniae, the tuberal hypothalamus, the substantia grisea centralis (GCt), and the locus ceruleus. Cells exhibiting a dense AR-ir label were also detected in the nucleus intercollicularis. Preincubation of the primary antibody with an excess of the synthetic peptide used for immunization completely eliminated this nuclear staining. A significant number of AR-ir cells in the POM, VMN, PVN, and tuberal hypothalamus also contained ARO-ir material in their cytoplasm. These data confirm and extend previous studies localizing AR in the avian brain, and raise questions about the possible regulation by androgens of the metabolizing enzyme aromatase.

Disciplines :

Zoology
Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition
Neurosciences & behavior

Author, co-author :

Balthazart, Jacques ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie de la différenciation sexuelle du cerveau

Foidart, Agnès ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Services généraux (Faculté de médecine) > Service administratif de la Faculté (Médecine)

Houbart, M.

Prins, G. S.

Ball, G. F.

Language :

English

Title :

Distribution of Androgen Receptor-Immunoreactive Cells in the Quail Forebrain and Their Relationship with Aromatase Immunoreactivity

Publication date :

June 1998

Journal title :

Journal of Neurobiology

ISSN :

0022-3034

eISSN :

1097-4695

Publisher :

John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, United States - New Jersey

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

323-40

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 27 April 2009

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