The 70-kDa heat shock cognate protein (Hsc73) gene is enhanced by ovarian hormones in the ventromedial hypothalamus.
Abstract
Estrogen (E) and progesterone (P) orchestrate many cellular responses involved in
female reproductive physiology, including reproductive behaviors. E- and P-binding
neurons important for lordosis behavior have been located within the ventromedial
hypothalamus (VMH), and several hormone-responsive genes have been observed there
as well. In attempts to identify additional E- and P-responsive genes in the VMH that
may contribute to sexual behaviors, we used the differential display mRNA screening
technique. One of the genes identified encodes the 73-kDa heat shock cognate protein
(Hsc73). Quantitative in situ hybridization analysis of brains from naturally cycling
female rats revealed a significant increase in Hsc73 mRNA in the VMH and arcuate nucleus
of animals during proestrus compared with those at diestrus-1. To confirm that these
increases were steroid hormone dependent, we compared vehicle-treated ovariectomized
females with ovariectomized females treated with estradiol benzoate and P. Northern
analysis and in situ hybridizations showed that the Hsc73 gene is enhanced by E and
P in the pituitary and subregions of the VMH. Incidentally, by examining the primary
amino acid sequence of rat, human, and chicken progesterone receptors, we noticed
that putative Hsc73 binding sites are conserved across species with similar sites
existing in the androgen and glucocorticoid receptors. Together these findings suggest
a possible mechanism through which E could influence the activities of progesterone,
androgen, and glucocorticoid receptors, by enhancing the expression of Hsc73 in cells
where these proteins colocalize.
Type
Journal articleSubject
Amino Acid SequenceAnimals
Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus
Base Sequence
Chickens
Estradiol
Estrus
Female
HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins
HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
Heat-Shock Proteins
Humans
In Situ Hybridization
Molecular Sequence Data
Neocortex
Ovariectomy
Ovary
Pituitary Gland
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Progesterone
RNA, Messenger
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Sequence Alignment
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Transcription, Genetic
Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Erich David Jarvis
Adjunct Professor in the Deptartment of Neurobiology
Dr. Jarvis' laboratory studies the neurobiology of vocal communication. Emphasis is
placed on the molecular pathways involved in the perception and production of learned
vocalizations. They use an integrative approach that combines behavioral, anatomical,
electrophysiological and molecular biological techniques. The main animal model used
is songbirds, one of the few vertebrate groups that evolved the ability to learn vocalizations.
The generality of the discoveries is tested in other vocal

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