Young W J, Chang C
Department of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14642, USA.
Endocrine. 1998 Aug;9(1):79-88. doi: 10.1385/ENDO:9:1:79.
Androgens and the androgen receptor (AR) both play critical roles for the development of the male phenotype. To investigate the roles of androgens in the developing nervous system, we examined the AR messenger RNA distribution by in situ hybridization. Our results indicate that AR transcripts were detectable in male mouse embryos at embryonic day 11 (E1111). Intensive AR labeling appears in the neuroepithelium of brain vesicles and spinal cord, as well as in the reproductive organs. During E1 5-E16, new and strong AR labeling appeared in the cortex of cerebrum and hippocampus. Specific AR signals were also present in the brain areas known for hormonal control of copulatory behavior and mediating sensory processing. Interestingly, many ganglia were found to express AR mRNA at E15-E16. These novel AR-expressing sites include the dorsal root, sympathetic, and celiac ganglia, as well as the ophthalmic nerve of trigeminal ganglion. Sex dimorphism of AR expression in brain was also observed during E15-E16. Postnatally, brain and spinal cord can respond to circulating androgen levels by modifying their AR gene expression, but the ganglia cannot. Together, these data suggest androgens may have a great influence on the development and maintenance of the nervous system through the AR.
雄激素和雄激素受体（AR）在男性表型的发育过程中均发挥着关键作用。为了研究雄激素在发育中的神经系统中的作用，我们通过原位杂交检测了AR信使核糖核酸的分布。我们的结果表明，在胚胎第11天（E11）的雄性小鼠胚胎中可检测到AR转录本。强烈的AR标记出现在脑泡和脊髓的神经上皮以及生殖器官中。在E15 - E16期间，大脑皮层和海马体中出现了新的且强烈的AR标记。在以交配行为的激素控制和介导感觉处理而闻名的脑区中也存在特异性AR信号。有趣的是，在E15 - E16期间发现许多神经节表达AR信使核糖核酸。这些新的AR表达位点包括背根神经节、交感神经节和腹腔神经节，以及三叉神经节的眼神经。在E15 - E16期间还观察到大脑中AR表达的性别二态性。出生后，脑和脊髓可通过改变其AR基因表达来响应循环雄激素水平，但神经节则不能。总之，这些数据表明雄激素可能通过AR对神经系统的发育和维持产生重大影响。
