Brain‐synthesized oestrogens regulate cortical migration in a sexually divergent manner. (11th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sellers, Katherine J.; Denley, Matthew C.S.; Saito, Atsushi; Foster, Evangeline M.; Salgarella, Irene; Delogu, Alessio; Kamiya, Atsushi; Srivastava, Deepak P.
• Other Names: Dalla Christina guestEditor.; Pawluski Jodi guestEditor.; Kokras Nikolaos guestEditor.; Charlier Thierry guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: European journal of neuroscience. Volume 52:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 2646
• Page End: 2663
• Publication Date: 2020-06-11
• Subjects: aromatase -- corticogenesis -- Cyp19a1 -- neural development -- neural stem cell -- radial migration; Nervous system -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14755
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-816X

Abstract

Abstract: Oestrogens play an important role in brain development where they have been implicated in controlling various cellular processes. Several lines of evidence have been presented showing that oestrogens can be synthesized locally within the brain. Studies have demonstrated that aromatase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of androgens to oestrogens, is expressed during early development in both male and female cortices. Furthermore, 17β‐oestradiol has been measured in foetal brain tissue from multiple species. 17β‐oestradiol regulates neural progenitor proliferation as well as the development of early neuronal morphology. However, what role locally derived oestrogens play in regulating cortical migration and, moreover, whether these effects are the same in males and females are unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of knockdown expression of Cyp19a1, which encodes aromatase, between embryonic day (E) 14.5 and postnatal day 0 (P0) had on neural migration within the cortex. Aromatase was expressed in the developing cortex of both sexes, but at significantly higher levels in male than female mice. Under basal conditions, no obvious differences in cortical migration between male and female mice were observed. However, knockdown of Cyp19a1 resulted in an increase in cells within the cortical plate, and a concurrent decrease in the subventricular zone/ventricular zone in P0 male mice. Interestingly, the opposite effect was observed in females, who displayed a significant reduction in cells migrating to the cortical plate. Together, these findings indicate that brain‐derived oestrogens regulate radial migration through distinct mechanisms in males and females. Abstract : Aromatase is expressed in male and female developing cortex. Knockdown of aromatase ( Cyp191a ) results in opposing effects on radial migration in male and female developing cortex. Increased migration is observed in male brains following aromatase knockdown; and Decreased migration is observed in female brains following aromatase knockdown.