%0 Journal Article
%T Sex differences in hypothalamic astrocyte response to estradiol stimulation
%A John Kuo
%A Naheed Hamid
%A Galyna Bondar
%A Phoebe Dewing
%A Jenny Clarkson
%A Paul Micevych
%J Biology of Sex Differences
%D 2010
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/2042-6410-1-7
%X Primary adult hypothalamic astrocyte cultures were established from wild type rats and mice, estrogen receptor-¦Á knockout (ERKO) mice, and four core genotype (FCG) mice, with the sex determining region of the Y chromosome (Sry) deleted and inserted into an autosome. Astrocytes were analyzed for Sry expression with reverse transcription PCR. Responses to estradiol stimulation were tested by measuring free cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) with fluo-4 AM, and progesterone synthesis with column chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Membrane estrogen receptor-¦Á (mER¦Á) levels were examined using surface biotinylation and western blotting.Estradiol stimulated both [Ca2+]i release and progesterone synthesis in hypothalamic astrocytes from adult female mice. Male astrocytes had a significantly elevated [Ca2+]i response but it was significantly lower than in females, and progesterone synthesis was not enhanced. Surface biotinylation demonstrated mER¦Á in both female and male astrocytes, but only in female astrocytes did estradiol treatment increase insertion of the receptor into the membrane, a necessary step for maximal [Ca2+]i release. Regardless of the chromosomal sex, estradiol facilitated progesterone synthesis in astrocytes from mice with ovaries (XX and XY-), but not in mice with testes (XY-Sry and XXSry).Astrocytes are sexually differentiated, and in adulthood reflect the actions of sex steroids during development. The response of hypothalamic astrocytes to estradiol stimulation was determined by the presence or absence of ovaries, regardless of chromosomal sex. The trafficking of mER¦Á in female, but not male, astrocytes further suggests that cell signaling mechanisms are sexually differentiated.Sex differences affect the physiological function of both gonadal and non-gonadal cellular systems. When gene expression was studied by microarray in a large number of mice, 55 to 72% of active genes showed sexual dimorphism in the liver, fat and muscle, and 13% of ge
%U http://www.bsd-journal.com/content/1/1/7