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. 2008 May 14;3(5):e2177.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002177.

Dopaminergic activation of estrogen receptors induces fos expression within restricted regions of the neonatal female rat brain

Kristin M Olesen  1 , Anthony P Auger
Affiliations

Dopaminergic activation of estrogen receptors induces fos expression within restricted regions of the neonatal female rat brain

Kristin M Olesen et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Steroid receptor activation in the developing brain influences a variety of cellular processes that endure into adulthood, altering both behavior and physiology. Recent data suggests that dopamine can regulate expression of progestin receptors within restricted regions of the developing rat brain by activating estrogen receptors in a ligand-independent manner. It is unclear whether changes in neuronal activity induced by dopaminergic activation of estrogen receptors are also region specific. To investigate this question, we examined where the dopamine D1-like receptor agonist, SKF 38393, altered Fos expression via estrogen receptor activation. We report that dopamine D1-like receptor agonist treatment increased Fos protein expression within many regions of the developing female rat brain. More importantly, prior treatment with an estrogen receptor antagonist partially reduced D1-like receptor agonist-induced Fos expression only within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the central amygdala. These data suggest that dopaminergic activation of estrogen receptors alters neuronal activity within restricted regions of the developing rat brain. This implies that ligand-independent activation of estrogen receptors by dopamine might organize a unique set of behaviors during brain development in contrast to the more wide spread ligand activation of estrogen receptors by estrogen.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Effect of SKF 38393 on Fos expression within the developing female rat brain.
SKF 38393 increased Fos expression within the AVPV, CPu, BST, mPOA, CeA, VMH, Arc, and Hb, but not within the PVP. Data are shown as mean±standard error. * indicates p<0.05.
Figure 2
Figure 2. SKF 38393-induced Fos expression within the BST and mPoA.
Photomicrographs of SKF 38393-induced Fos expression within the BST and mPOA. The right column shows schematics of the regions pictured. Shaded area indicates regions examined. 3V, third ventricle; ac, anterior commissure; BST, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; LV, lateral ventricle; mPOA, medial preoptic area.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Effect of PSK 3668 on SKF 38393-induced Fos expression.
SKF 38393 increased Fos expression within the AVPV, CPu, BST, mPOA, CeA, VMH, Arc, and Hb, but not within the PVP. Pretreatment with PSK 3668 partially blocked SKF 38393-induced Fos expression within the BST and CeA. Data are shown as mean±standard error. Within each brain region, bars not denoted by the same letter are statistically different (p<0.05).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Photomicrographs of SKF 38393-induced Fos expression partially blocked by PSK 3668 within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.
A schematic of this region is shown in Figure 2. ac, anterior commissure; LV, lateral ventricle.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Photomicrographs of SKF 38393-induced Fos expression within the mPOA.
PSK 3668 did not block SKF 38393-induced Fos expression within this region. A schematic of this region is shown in Figure 2. 3V, third ventricle.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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