Estrogen receptor beta (ER beta) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression within the human forebrain: Distinct distribution pattern to ER alpha mRNA

Estrogen has been shown to influence several brain functions as well as the expression of neuropsychiatric diseases. To date, two estrogen receptor (E R) subtypes have been identified, ER alpha and ER beta. ER alpha messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) distribution in the human forebrain was recently ch aracterized, and the highest expression was found in restricted areas of th e amygdala and hypothalamus. However, no information exists with regard to ERP mRNA distribution in the human brain. To this end, the anatomical distr ibution pattern of ER beta mRNA expression in the human forebrain was inves tigated in the present study. Overall, the ER beta mRNA hybridization signa l was relatively low, but the most abundant ER beta mRNA areas were the hip pocampal formation (primarily the subiculum), claustrum, and cerebral corte x; expression was also present in the subthalamic nucleus and thalamus (ven tral lateral nucleus). In contrast to ER alpha (studied on adjacent brain s ections), ER beta mRNA expression was low in the hypothalamus and amygdala. Based on the revealed anatomical distribution of the human ER beta gene ex pression, a putative role for ER beta in the modulation of cognition, memor y, and motor functions is suggested.