Expression levels of mRNA for neurosteroidogenic enzymes 17β-HSD, 5α-reductase, 3α-HSD and cytochrome P450 aromatase in the fetal wild type and SF-1 knockout mouse brain. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spanic, Tanja; Fabjan, Teja; Majdic, Gregor
• Is Part Of: Endocrine research. Volume 40:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Endocrinology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; 616.4
• DOI: 10.3109/07435800.2014.933974
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0743-5800

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The presence of steroidogenic enzymes in the brain suggests <italic>de novo</italic> synthesis of steroid hormones in the brain. The current study was designed to determine the developmental profiles of cytochrome p450 aromatase (<italic>cyp19</italic>), <italic>17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), 5α-reductase type I</italic> and <italic>3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD)</italic> mRNA expression levels in the fetal mouse brain and potential influence of peripheral steroids, and the steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) gene on their expression. Brains were collected from WT and SF-1 knockout male and female fetuses at embryonic (E) days E12, E14, E16, and E18. Quantitative PCR analyses revealed age related increases in the expression levels of <italic>17β-HSD</italic> and <italic>5α-reductase</italic>. Differences between genotypes in the expression levels of <italic>17β-HSD</italic> and <italic>5α-reductase</italic> were detected on E14, with reduced levels of expression in SF-1 KO males and females for <italic>17β-HSD</italic> and only between females for <italic>5α-reductase</italic>. Expression of <italic>3α-HSD</italic> mRNA did not differ significantly between sexes, age groups or genotypes with the exception of SF-1 KO males, which had an unexplained increase in mRNA for this enzyme on day E18. Expression of <italic>cyp19</italic> was at the limit of detection and could not be analyzed effectively. There were no sex differences and, with the exception of small difference on E14 for <italic>17β-HSD</italic> and <italic>5α-reductase</italic>, no differences between genotypes. The results suggest that gonadal steroids do not influence the production of neurosteroids in the fetal brain, nor does SF-1 play a major role in the regulation of steroidogenic enzyme expression in the brain.</p> </abstract>