Cui S, Goldstein R S
China Agricultural University, College of Biology, 10094, Beijing, China.
Brain Res. 2000 Nov 3;882(1-2):236-40. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(00)02848-1.
Estrogen receptors (ER) are widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies, to date in rat only, have shown that ER are also expressed in neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) where they appear to have functional roles. However, no data yet exists about estrogen receptors in the embryonic DRG. In the present study, immunocytochemical staining for ER in the DRG of chick embryos from day 6.5 to 18.5 (Hamburger and Hamilton St. 30-45) of incubation was performed. ER+ cells were first consistently observed at day 8.5 (St. 34), more concentrated in the ventral-lateral portion of the DRG. From day 8.5 to 12.5 (St. 38), the density of ER+ cells and the staining intensity increased, with no obvious changes from day (E) 12.5 to 18.5. Although ER is detected mainly in the cytoplasm of embryonic DRG neurones, ER+ cells with nuclear staining are sometimes observed and gradually increase in number during development. ER-immunoreactivity in the DRG at cervical, thoracic and lumbo-sacral levels is similar and no obvious differences in staining were observed between male and female embryos. ER+ neurons are also present in the sympathetic ganglia from E8.5 and some primary spinal motoneurons are ER+ beginning at E14.5. The results suggest that estrogen may play a role in the embryonic development of the DRG.
雌激素受体（ER）广泛分布于中枢神经系统（CNS）。迄今为止，仅在大鼠身上进行的近期研究表明，ER也在背根神经节（DRG）的神经元中表达，且在其中似乎发挥着功能性作用。然而，关于胚胎背根神经节中雌激素受体尚无相关数据。在本研究中，对孵化第6.5天至18.5天（汉伯格和汉密尔顿第30 - 45期）的鸡胚背根神经节进行了雌激素受体的免疫细胞化学染色。在第8.5天（第34期）首次持续观察到ER阳性细胞，更多集中在背根神经节的腹外侧部分。从第8.5天至12.5天（第38期），ER阳性细胞的密度和染色强度增加，从第12.5天（E）至18.5天无明显变化。虽然主要在胚胎背根神经节神经元的细胞质中检测到ER，但有时也会观察到细胞核染色的ER阳性细胞，且在发育过程中数量逐渐增加。颈、胸和腰骶水平背根神经节中的ER免疫反应性相似，雄性和雌性胚胎之间在染色上未观察到明显差异。从第8.5天开始，交感神经节中也存在ER阳性神经元，从第14.5天开始一些初级脊髓运动神经元为ER阳性。结果表明，雌激素可能在背根神经节的胚胎发育中发挥作用。
