EXPRESSION OF CYP19 (AROMATASE) MESSENGER-RNA IN THE HUMAN TEMPORAL-LOBE

The conversion of androgens to estrogens by CYP19 (cytochrome P450(ARO M), aromatase) is an important step in the mechanism of androgen actio n in the brain. CYP19 expression has been demonstrated in various anim al species, but studies in human postnatal brain tissue are lacking. T herefore, we investigated CYP19 mRNA expression in human temporal lobe tissues. We studied biopsy materials removed at neurosurgery from 34 women, 32 men and 10 children with temporal lobe epilepsy. Quantificat ion of CYP19 mRNA was achieved by nested competitive reverse transcrip tion-PCR. CYP19 mRNA concentrations did not differ significantly betwe en women (2.6 +/- 0.6 arbitrary units, aU; mean +/- SEM) and men (1.6 +/- 0.3 aU) nor between cerebral cortex tissue (2.0 +/- 0.4 aU) and su bcortical white matter tissue of adults (2.4 +/- 0.7 all), but they we re significantly lower in cerebral cortex specimens of children (0.9 /- 0.6 aU) than in those of adults (p < 0.02). In conclusion, CYP1S mR NA is expressed in the temporal lobe of children and adults. CYP1S mRN A concentrations are significantly lower in specimens of children than in those of adults. (C) 1998 Academic Press.