Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Biology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2007

Estrogen

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Biology

Differential Effects Of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Suppression By Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides In The Medial Preoptic Area And The Medial Amygdala On Male Rat Mating Behavior, Jacquelyn Carrie Paisley Dec 2007

Differential Effects Of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Suppression By Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides In The Medial Preoptic Area And The Medial Amygdala On Male Rat Mating Behavior, Jacquelyn Carrie Paisley

Biology Theses

Male rat copulation is mediated by estrogen-sensitive neurons in the medial preoptic area (MPO) and medial amygdala (MEA); however, the mechanisms through which estradiol (E2) acts are not fully understood. We hypothesized that E2 acts through estrogen receptor α (ERα) in the MPO and MEA to promote male mating behavior. Antisense oligodeoxyneucleotides (AS-ODN) complementary to ERα mRNA were bilaterally infused via minipumps into either brain area to block the synthesis of ERα, which we predicted would reduce mating. Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry revealed a knockdown of ERα in each brain region; however, compared to saline controls, males receiving AS-ODN …


The Expression Of P68 Protein In The Australian Zebra Finch Brain Across Development, Chukwuemeka Franklin Okeke May 2007

The Expression Of P68 Protein In The Australian Zebra Finch Brain Across Development, Chukwuemeka Franklin Okeke

Biology Theses

Steroid hormones and receptors play a role in regulating biological events underlying brain development and sexual differentiation. Current evidence indicates that circulating sex steroid hormones are not entirely responsible for development of neural sex differences in song birds such as the zebra finch. p68, as a coactivator specific for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and an essential factor in early tissue development and maturation might play a role in sexual differentiation. Zebra finches have a sexually dimorphic song control nuclei in the brain, males have larger song nuclei than females, and are ideal model for investigating the mechanisms controlling sexual differentiation …