Article (Scientific journals)
Aromatase (estrogen synthase) activity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord: Functional implications
Evrard, H. C.; Balthazart, Jacques
2003In Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1007, p. 263-271
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
 

Files


Full Text
461_2003_Evrard&JBNYAS03.pdf
Publisher postprint (4.21 MB)
Request a copy

All documents in ORBi are protected by a user license.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
spinal cord; nociception; reproduction; estrogen receptor; Japanese quail
Abstract :
[en] The presence of aromatase (estrogen synthase) in neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in Japanese quail suggests that estrogens produced locally from androgens could control spinal sensory processes including nociception. We used the hot water nociceptive test (54 degreesC) to appraise the longterm effect of an inhibition of aromatization on the foot withdrawal latency in male quail. Four weeks after the ablation of their main source of testosterone (testes), castrated males displayed a significantly higher foot withdrawal latency than gonadally intact males. A prolonged treatment with subcutaneous capsules filled with testosterone or 17 beta-estradiol restored the baseline latency within 2 weeks. The effect of testosterone in castrated quail was almost completely blocked by systemic injections of Vorozole((TM)), a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist (one injection per day for 10 days). Taken together, these data demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge an effect of estrogens formed by aromatization of androgens on nociception. Because aromatase-immunoreactive neurons and aromatase activity are present in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord, this control of pain thresholds is presumably mediated, at least in part, by estrogens produced at the spinal level that act locally via slow, presumably genomic, mechanisms mediated by the activation of spinal nuclear estrogen receptors.
Disciplines :
Neurosciences & behavior
Endocrinology, metabolism & nutrition
Author, co-author :
Evrard, H. C.
Balthazart, Jacques  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie de la différenciation sexuelle du cerveau
Language :
English
Title :
Aromatase (estrogen synthase) activity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord: Functional implications
Publication date :
December 2003
Journal title :
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
ISSN :
0077-8923
eISSN :
1749-6632
Publisher :
New York Acad Sciences, New York, United States - New York
Special issue title :
Steroids and the Nervous System
Volume :
1007
Pages :
263-271
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 21 April 2009

Statistics


Number of views
68 (0 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
0 (0 by ULiège)

Scopus citations®
 
23
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
22
OpenCitations
 
19

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi