Biomaterial Database

Expression of alpha and beta estrogen receptors in the chicken ovary. 2008

Anna Hrabia, and Mieszko Wilk, and Janusz Rzasa

Department of Animal Physiology, University of Agriculture, Mickiewicza av. 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland. rzhrabia@cyf-kr.edu.pl

The role of estrogens in hen reproduction is well established. However, the distribution of estrogen receptors in the chicken ovary is unknown. Therefore, the mRNA expression of alpha (ERaalpha) and beta (ERbeta) estrogen receptors was examined within the ovaries of laying hens. Expression of ERs was determined by RT-PCR analysis. The presence of ERalpha and ERbeta mRNAs was found in the ovarian stroma and white, yellowish, small yellow and the largest preovulatory (F3-F1) follicles. ERalpha and ERbeta mRNAs were detected in the granulosa and theca layers of the walls of preovulatory follicles. The expression of ERalpha mRNA was markedly higher than ERbeta mRNA in all examined ovarian compartments. Within the ovary, the relative expression of both ER mRNAs depends on the follicular diameter and the layer of the follicular wall. The results demonstrate the expression of both ERalpha mRNA and ERbeta mRNA in all compartments of the chicken ovary, suggesting different pathways of estrogen action in the avian ovary. Much higher expression of ERalpha mRNA indicates that this form of estrogen receptor is predominant in the chicken ovary. The clarification of the mechanism of ERalpha and ERbeta participation in the ovarian functions of birds necessitates further experiments examining ERs at the protein level.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010053	Ovary	The reproductive organ (GONADS) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the OVARIAN FOLLICLE for the production of female germ cells (OOGENESIS); and the endocrine cells (GRANULOSA CELLS; THECA CELLS; and LUTEAL CELLS) for the production of ESTROGENS and PROGESTERONE.	Ovaries
D002645	Chickens	Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA.	Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D047628	Estrogen Receptor alpha	One of the ESTROGEN RECEPTORS that has marked affinity for ESTRADIOL. Its expression and function differs from, and in some ways opposes, ESTROGEN RECEPTOR BETA.	ERalpha,Estradiol Receptor alpha,Estrogen Receptor 1,Estrogen Receptors alpha,Receptor alpha, Estrogen,Receptor alpha, Estradiol,alpha, Estradiol Receptor
D047629	Estrogen Receptor beta	One of the ESTROGEN RECEPTORS that has greater affinity for ISOFLAVONES than ESTROGEN RECEPTOR ALPHA does. There is great sequence homology with ER alpha in the DNA-binding domain but not in the ligand binding and hinge domains.	ERbeta,ERbetacx,Estrogen Receptor 2,Estrogen Receptors beta,Receptor beta, Estrogen
D017931	DNA Primers	Short sequences (generally about 10 base pairs) of DNA that are complementary to sequences of messenger RNA and allow reverse transcriptases to start copying the adjacent sequences of mRNA. Primers are used extensively in genetic and molecular biology techniques.	DNA Primer,Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Primer,Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Primers,Oligonucleotide Primer,Oligonucleotide Primers,Primer, DNA,Primer, Oligodeoxyribonucleotide,Primer, Oligonucleotide,Primers, DNA,Primers, Oligodeoxyribonucleotide,Primers, Oligonucleotide
D020133	Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction	A variation of the PCR technique in which cDNA is made from RNA via reverse transcription. The resultant cDNA is then amplified using standard PCR protocols.	Polymerase Chain Reaction, Reverse Transcriptase,Reverse Transcriptase PCR,PCR, Reverse Transcriptase,Transcriptase PCR, Reverse