RNAi-mediated silencing of estrogen receptor {alpha} in the ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus abolishes female sexual behaviors.

ABSTRACT: Estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) plays a major role in the regulation of neuroendocrine functions and behaviors by estrogens. Although the generation of ERalpha knockout mice advanced our knowledge of ERalpha functions, gene deletion using this method is global and potentially confounded by developmental consequences. To achieve a site-specific knockdown of ERalpha in the normally developed adult brain, we have generated an adeno-associated virus vector expressing a small hairpin RNA targeting ERalpha. After bilateral injection of this vector into the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus in ovariectomized female mice, expression levels of ERalpha as well as the estrogen-inducible progesterone receptor were profoundly reduced despite the continued presence of this receptor elsewhere in the br

SUBMITTER: Musatov S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1502479 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature