Presumptive Estrogen Target Neurons Express mRNAs for both the Neurotrophins and Neurotrophin Receptors: A Basis for Potential Developmental Interactions of Estrogen with the Neurotrophins.

Estrogen and the neurotrophins regulate development, survival, and plasticity of the nervous system. We have shown previously that neurons of the developing basal forebrain and their cortical and hippocampal targets express estrogen receptor mRNA and protein. Furthermore, subsets of neurons within these regions colocalize mRNAs for neurotrophin receptors (p75(NGFR), (trk) A, and (trk)B) and their cognate ligands (NGF, BDNF, and NT-3). Using combined isotopic/nonisotopic in situ hybridization histochemistry, we now demonstrate that mRNAs for the neurotrophins as well as their receptors colocalize to individual estrogen receptor mRNA-containing neurons in these regions of the developing rodent forebrain. The patterns of colocalization were both region and mRNA specific. These results suggest a potential for interactions between estrogen and the neurotrophins, including possible estrogen-stimulated, neurotrophin-mediated autocrine mechanisms that may regulate neuronal differentiation and survival during development.