Colchicine-induced accumulation of estrogen receptor and progestin receptor immunoreactivity in atypical areas in guinea-pig brain.

Using immunocytochemical techniques, cells containing estrogen and progestin receptors have been observed in many discrete regions of the guinea-pig forebrain, including the mediobasal hypothalamus and preoptic area. While most reaction product is located within cell nuclei, we have reported abundant reaction product in perikaryal cytoplasm and neuronal processes as well. Ultrastructural analysis has revealed the presence of estrogen and progestin receptors in atypical subcellular sites within the hypothalamus, including dendrites and axon terminals. In order to determine if microtubule-dependent intracellular transport is involved in intraneuronal transport of steroid hormone receptors, ovariectomized guinea-pigs were injected intracerebroventricularly with the microtubule inhibitor, colchicine, and brain sections at the level of the hypothalamus were immunostained for estrogen receptors. This treatment resulted in the appearance of estrogen receptor immunoreactivity in the paraventricular and mediodorsal thalamic region, areas typically devoid of estrogen receptor-immunoreactive cells in guinea-pigs. In a second study on progestin receptors, we observed the colchicine-induced accumulation of progestin receptor immunoreactivity in the paraventricular thalamic, mediodorsal thalamic and lateral dorsal thalamic areas as well as in the medial amygdala, all areas typically devoid of progestin receptor immunoreactivity. While estradiol injection induced progestin receptor immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and preoptic area as described previously, it had no effect on the colchicine-induced accumulation in the thalamus and amygdala. These results provide evidence that in some neurons, progestin receptors and estrogen receptors are transported intracellularly, apparently at a rapid enough rate that they do not ordinarily accumulate within the perikaryon.