Localisation of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphotransferase in adult rat brain

The presence and localisation of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphotransferase w as assessed in adult rat brain. The activity of the enzyme was investigated and was found to be approximately four times less than that in rat liver. Rat brain dehydroepiandrosterone sulphotransferase activity was measured as 1.39 +/- 0.04 nm/mu g/min. The protein expression of dehydroepiandrosteron e sulphotransferase was evaluated using Western blotting. The presence of a band at 35 kDa signified the presence of this enzyme in adult rat brain. F inally, the localisation of this enzyme was investigated by immunohistochem istry and by assessing activity in nine regions of brain. Immunohistochemis try showed positive staining in the hippocampus and the dendate gyrus, and in the large neurons of the midbrain, indicating the presence of dehydroepi androsterone sulphotransferase. Western blotting showed the presence of a b and in all nine regions, and enzyme activity was highest in the hippocampus , frontal cortex, thalamus and basal ganglia. These results imply that dehy droepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) have a defin ed role in brain function and are produced in situ independently of the per ipheral endocrine system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.