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Dihydroprogesterone Increases the Gene Expression of Myelin Basic Protein in Spinal Cord of Diabetic Rats

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Abstract

Alterations in myelin membranes, as well as in the expression of myelin proteins have been reported in experimental models of diabetes. Data here reported show for the first time that the mRNA levels of two isoforms of myelin basic protein (MBP), 18.5 and 21.5 kDa, are decreased in the spinal cord of streptozotocin-treated rats and that treatment with a neuroactive steroid, such as progesterone (P), may counteract this effect. Interestingly, metabolism of progesterone into dihydroprogesterone (DHP) by the enzyme 5α-reductase seems to exert an important role in such an effect. As here demonstrated, 5α-reductase mRNA and DHP levels are reduced by diabetes in spinal cord, but treatment with P, is able to counteract these effects. Moreover, treatment with DHP is able to mimic the effect of P on MBP gene expression. Thus, the effects of P here observed are due to its enzymatic conversion into DHP. Because DHP, like P, interacts with P receptor (PR), the present results may suggest the importance to analyze the effects of PR modulators as tools of therapeutic strategies for diabetic complications occurring in nervous system.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support of PRIN (20074SPYCM_002) and PUR from University of Milano, Italy, to Roberto C. Melcangi is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Pathophysiology, and Applied Biology, Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Marzia Pesaresi, Silvia Giatti, Donato Calabrese & Roberto Cosimo Melcangi

  2. Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Omar Maschi & Donatella Caruso

Authors
  1. Marzia Pesaresi
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  2. Silvia Giatti
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  3. Donato Calabrese
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  4. Omar Maschi
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  5. Donatella Caruso
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  6. Roberto Cosimo Melcangi
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Correspondence to Roberto Cosimo Melcangi.

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Pesaresi, M., Giatti, S., Calabrese, D. et al. Dihydroprogesterone Increases the Gene Expression of Myelin Basic Protein in Spinal Cord of Diabetic Rats. J Mol Neurosci 42, 135–139 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-010-9344-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-010-9344-y

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