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Immunohistochemical localization of estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ in the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) ovary during postnatal development

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Abstract

This study was designed to determine the expression pattern of estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes in the Acomys cahirinus ovarian cells during its postnatal development.

Immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of ERα and ERβ in germinal epithelium cells and interstitial tissue. Both these ER subtypes were also seen in granulosa cells and oocytes of growing follicles, however, the level of ERβ expression was higher in comparison with ERα. In contrast to ERβ, ERα protein was also present in theca cells.

The expression of ERs increased with animals’ age, but it decreased during follicular maturation. Moreover, the immunolocalization of ER subtypes in luteal cells showed that not ERβ, but ERα expression is up-regulated throughout corpus luteum development.

These immunohistochemical studies demonstrate, for the first time, that ERα is also expressed in the mouse granulosa cells and it may be a mediator of estrogen action in granulosa cells proliferation and differentiation.

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  1. Department of Comparative Anatomy and Anthropology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033, Lublin, Poland

    Monika Hułas-Stasiak & Antoni Gawron

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  1. Monika Hułas-Stasiak
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  2. Antoni Gawron
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Correspondence to Monika Hułas-Stasiak.

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Hułas-Stasiak, M., Gawron, A. Immunohistochemical localization of estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ in the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) ovary during postnatal development. J Mol Hist 38, 25–32 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-006-9072-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-006-9072-3

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