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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2009; 51(1); 31; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-51-31

Steroid hormone receptors ERalpha and PR characterised by immunohistochemistry in the mare adrenal gland.

Abstract: Sex steroid hormone receptors have been identified in the adrenal gland of rat, sheep and rhesus monkey, indicating a direct effect of sex steroids on adrenal gland function. Methods: In the present study, immunohistochemistry using two different mouse monoclonal antibodies was employed to determine the presence of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the mare adrenal gland. Adrenal glands from intact (n = 5) and ovariectomised (OVX) (n = 5) mares, as well as uterine tissue (n = 9), were collected after euthanasia. Three of the OVX mares were treated with a single intramuscular injection of oestradiol benzoate (2.5 mg) 18-22 hours prior to euthanasia and tissue collection (OVX+Oe). Uterine tissue was used as a positive control and showed positive staining for both ERalpha and PR. Results: ERalpha staining was detected in the adrenal zona glomerulosa, fasciculata and reticularis of all mare groups. Ovariectomy increased cortical ERalpha staining intensity. In OVX mares and one intact mare, positive ERalpha staining was also detected in adrenal medullary cells. PR staining of weak intensity was present in a low proportion of cells in the zona fasciculata and reticularis of all mare groups. Weak PR staining was also found in a high proportion of adrenal medullary cells. In contrast to staining in the adrenal cortex, which was always located within the cell nuclei, medullary staining for both ERalpha and PR was observed only in the cell cytoplasm. Conclusions: The present results show the presence of ERalpha in the adrenal cortex, indicating oestradiol may have a direct effect on mare adrenal function. However, further studies are needed to confirm the presence of PR as staining in the present study was only weak and/or minor. Also, any possible effect of oestradiol treatment on the levels of steroid receptors cannot be determined by the present study, as treatment time was of a too short duration.
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Publication Date: 2009-07-22 PubMed ID: 19624811PubMed Central: PMC2727514DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-51-31Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study identifies the presence of certain sex hormone receptors, namely oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and progesterone receptor (PR), in the adrenal gland of horses – an observation that backs up prior studies of a similar nature in other mammals such as rats, sheep, and rhesus monkeys. This study suggests these sex hormones could directly affect the functioning of the adrenal gland in horses. However, further research is necessary to confirm the presence and effects of progesterone receptors since the stained indicators were relatively weak and minor.

Methodology

  • The study was conducted using immunohistochemistry, an effective laboratory technique that uses antibodies to detect the presence of specific antigens in cells of a tissue section.
  • The adrenal glands from two sets of mares, five with their ovaries intact and five who had been ovariectomised (OVX), along with uterine tissue, were examined after euthanasia.
  • Three of the OVX mares were exposed to an injection of oestradiol benzoate hormone 18-22 hours before they were euthanised.
  • The uterine tissue was used as a positive control in the experiment, as it showed positive staining for both ERalpha and PR.

Results

  • The presence of ERalpha staining was confirmed in three different zones – glomerulosa, fasciculata, and reticularis – of the adrenal gland across all mare groups.
  • Ovariectomy, or the removal of ovaries, seemed to intensify the cortical ERalpha staining, indicating an increase in ERalpha presence after the procedure.
  • In the OVX group and one intact mare, a positive ERalpha staining was also spotted in adrenal medullary cells.
  • In contrast, PR staining was found present only in a minimally expressive amount in the zona fasciculata and reticularis across all mare groups. The staining was also weak in a high proportion of adrenal medullary cells.
  • Interesting observation was that contrary to the adrenal cortex where staining was located within the cell nuclei, the medullary staining for both ERalpha and PR was observed only in the cell cytoplasm.

Conclusions and Future Studies

  • This research confirms the presence of ERalpha in the adrenal cortex, implying that oestradiol hormone can have a direct effect on mare adrenal function.
  • However, the mere presence of weak or minor staining for PR suggests that further detailed studies are necessary to confirm its presence and understand its effects.
  • The study also indicates that it couldn’t precisely detect any possible effect of the oestradiol treatment on receptor levels due to the short-term treatment. Therefore, future studies should consider longer treatment duration for more accurate results.

Cite This Article

APA
Alm YH, Sukjumlong S, Kindahl H, Dalin AM. (2009). Steroid hormone receptors ERalpha and PR characterised by immunohistochemistry in the mare adrenal gland. Acta Vet Scand, 51(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-51-31

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 1
Pages: 31

Researcher Affiliations

Alm, Ylva Hedberg
  • University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7040, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden. ylva.hedberg.alm@uds.slu.se
Sukjumlong, Sayamon
    Kindahl, Hans
      Dalin, Anne-Marie

        MeSH Terms

        • Adrenal Glands / chemistry
        • Adrenal Glands / metabolism
        • Adrenal Glands / physiology
        • Animals
        • Estrogen Receptor alpha / analysis
        • Female
        • Horses / metabolism
        • Immunohistochemistry
        • Ovariectomy / veterinary
        • Random Allocation
        • Receptors, Progesterone / analysis
        • Uterus / chemistry
        • Uterus / metabolism

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 1 times.
        1. Satué K, Fazio E, Muñoz A, Medica P. Endocrine and Electrolyte Balances during Periovulatory Period in Cycling Mares. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 17;11(2).
          doi: 10.3390/ani11020520pubmed: 33671405google scholar: lookup
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