Examination of estradiol effects on the rapid estradiol mediated increase in hippocampal synaptic transmission in estrogen receptor alpha knockout mice
Hn. Fugger et al., Examination of estradiol effects on the rapid estradiol mediated increase in hippocampal synaptic transmission in estrogen receptor alpha knockout mice, NEUROSCI L, 309(3), 2001, pp. 207-209
Hippocampal slices from rats exhibit a rapid increase in basal synaptic tra
nsmission following 17 beta -estradiol (E-2) application. In the current st
udy we examined the role of the classic genomic receptor, estrogen receptor
alpha (ER alpha), in mediating E-2 effects on synaptic transmission. E-2 (
100 pM) increased the extracellular synaptic response in hippocampal slices
from gonadectomized male and female mice lacking a functional ER alpha kno
ckout (ER alpha KO) and wild-type (WT) littermates. No sexually dimorphic d
ifferences were observed, however, the increase in the field potential was
more pronounced in WT mice. ER antagonists did not block E-2 mediated growt
h of the synaptic response in ERaKO mice. The results suggest that the rapi
d effect of E-2 on synaptic transmission is not mediated by ER alpha, howev
er, ER alpha appears to modulate non-genomic influences on synaptic transmi
ssion. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.