Androgen and estrogen (α) receptor localization on periaqueductal gray neurons projecting to the rostral ventromedial medulla in the male and female rat

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dc.contributor.authorLloyd, Dayna L.
dc.contributor.authorMurphy, Anne Z.
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8345-4988
dc.date.accessioned2021-11-04T15:15:42Z
dc.date.available2021-11-04T15:15:42Z
dc.date.issued2008-12
dc.descriptionArticle originally published in Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 36(3-4), 216–226. English. Published online December 2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchemneu.2008.08.001
dc.description.abstractThe periaqueductal gray (PAG) is involved in many gonadal steroid-sensitive behaviors, including responsiveness to pain. The PAG projects to the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM), comprising the primary circuit driving pain inhibition. Morphine administered systemically or directly into the PAG produces greater analgesia in male compared to female rats, while manipulation of gonadal hormones alters morphine potency in both sexes. It is unknown if these alterations are due to steroidal actions on PAG neurons projecting to the RVM. The expression of androgen (AR) and estrogen (ERα) receptors in the PAG of female rats and within this descending inhibitory pathway in both sexes is unknown. The present study used immunohistochemical techniques (1) to map the distribution of AR and ERα across the rostrocaudal axis of the PAG; and (2) to determine whether AR and/or ERα were colocalized on PAG neurons projecting to the RVM in male and female rats. AR and ERα immunoreactive neurons (AR-IR, ERα-IR) were densely distributed within the caudal PAG of male rats, with the majority localized in the lateral/ventrolateral PAG. Females had significantly fewer AR-IR neurons, while the quantity of ERα was comparable between the sexes. In both sexes, approximately 25–50% of AR-IR neurons and 20–50% of ERα-IR neurons were retrogradely labeled. This study provides direct evidence of the expression of steroid receptors in the PAG and the descending pathway driving pain inhibition in both male and female rats and may provide a mechanism whereby gonadal steroids modulate pain and morphine potency.en_US
dc.identifier.citationThis is the abstract for an article that is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchemneu.2008.08.001. Recommended citation: Loyd, D. R., & Murphy, A. Z. (2008). Androgen and estrogen (α) receptor localization on periaqueductal gray neurons projecting to the rostral ventromedial medulla in the male and female rat. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 36(3-4), 216–226. This item has been deposited in accordance with publisher copyright and licensing terms and with the author’s permission.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11274/13396
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchemneu.2008.08.001
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherElsevieren_US
dc.rights.licenseThis work was supported by NIH grants DA16272 and P50 AR49555 awarded to Anne Z. Murphy, Ph.D.
dc.subjectGonadal steroid receptoren_US
dc.subjectHormoneen_US
dc.subjectImmunohistochemistryen_US
dc.subjectSex differencesen_US
dc.subjectDescending modulatory pathwayen_US
dc.subjectPainen_US
dc.subjectAntinociceptionen_US
dc.titleAndrogen and estrogen (α) receptor localization on periaqueductal gray neurons projecting to the rostral ventromedial medulla in the male and female raten_US
dc.typeAbstracten_US

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