Expression of estrogen receptor α and β transcripts in female monkey hippocampus and hypothalamus

Understanding mechanisms of estrogen effects on cognition is critical for designing therapies for post-menopausal women and others with dementia. Hippocampus, an area important to cognitive function, responds robustly to estrogen. ER beta and ER alpha transcripts were detected in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of an ovariectomized female monkey at a relatively high ER beta/ER alpha ratio. These results suggest that ER beta may play a role in mediating estrogen effects in the primate hippocampus and hypothalamus. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.