Abstract
Estradiol and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) interact in the hypothalamus to regulate neuronal function, synaptic plasticity and neuroendocrine events. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these interactions are still unknown. In the present study, the effect of estradiol on the signaling pathways of IGF-I receptor has been assessed in the hypothalamus of young adult ovariectomized rats, using specific antibodies for the phosphorylated forms of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and ERK2 and Akt/protein kinase B (Akt/PKB). Estradiol treatment resulted, between 6 and 24 h after systemic administration, in dose-dependent effects on the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt/PKB. Estradiol did not modify the level of ERK phosphorylation induced by intracerebroventricular administration of IGF-I. However, both hormones had a synergistic effect on the phosphorylation of Akt/PKB. These findings suggest that estrogen effects in the hypothalamus may be mediated in part by the activation of the signaling pathways of the IGF-I receptor.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Drug Interactions / physiology
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Estradiol / metabolism*
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Estradiol / pharmacology
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Female
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Hypothalamus / drug effects
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Hypothalamus / enzymology*
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / pharmacology
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MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
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MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / drug effects
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / drug effects
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / enzymology*
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Ovariectomy
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / drug effects
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
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Phosphorylation / drug effects
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / drug effects
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
Substances
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Estradiol
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Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
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Akt1 protein, rat
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases