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Aromatase and estrogen receptors are expressed in specific regions of the brain. A. The enzyme aromatase, which catalyzes the conversion of
testosterone into estrogen (see Figure 58–3), is expressed in discrete neuronal populations in the brain. Aromatase labeled with a reporter protein (blue) in
transgenic mice is shown here in three coronal planes of the brain: in neurons in the preoptic hypothalamus (1), in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis or
BNST (2), and in the medial amygdala (3). These areas contain sexually dimorphic neurons that regulate sexual behavior, aggression, and maternal
behaviors. (Modified, with permission, from Wu et al. 2009.)
B. This midsagittal
an adult rat brain
binding
of estrogen
in various
hypothalamic
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Fifth Editon regions, including the preoptic area, which is
sexually dimorphic. Additional estrogen binding is seen in the septum, hippocampus, pituitary, and midbrain. Other, more lateral areas such as the
Citation: Kandel ER, Schwartz JH, Jessell TM, Siegelbaum SA, Hudspeth AJ, Mack S. Principles of Neural Science, Fifth Editon; 2012 Available
amygdala (not shown) also contain estrogen receptors.
at: http://mhmedical.com/ Accessed: May 06, 2017
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