Distribution and Regulation of Estrogen-2-Hydroxylase in the Quail Brain

[en] The anatomical distribution and endocrine regulation of the estrogen-2-hydroxylase activity were investigated in the brain of adult male and female Japanese quail. Significant levels of enzymatic activity were detected in all brain regions that were studied, but the highest levels were observed in preoptic and hypothalamic brain nuclei that are known to contain high levels of aromatase activity. These data are consistent with previous results suggesting that the placental aromatase is also responsible for the estrogen-2-hydroxylase activity. However, there is a marked sex difference and a control by T of aromatase activity in the quail brain, and no such difference in 2-hydroxylase activity could generally be detected except in the VMN. Further studies will be needed to know whether the previously published conclusions concerning the human placenta also apply to the brain. The present data are consistent with the idea that estrogens formed locally in the brain by testosterone aromatization could affect reproduction by interfering with the catecholaminergic transmission after being metabolized into catechol-estrogens.

Disciplines :

Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition
Neurosciences & behavior
Zoology

Author, co-author :

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

Stoop, R.

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

Granneman, J. C.

Lambert, J. G.

Language :

English

Title :

Distribution and Regulation of Estrogen-2-Hydroxylase in the Quail Brain

Publication date :

1994

Journal title :

Brain Research Bulletin

ISSN :

0361-9230

eISSN :

1873-2747

Publisher :

Elsevier, Netherlands

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

339-45

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 18 November 2009

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