Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression within the human forebrain:: Distinct distribution pattern to ERα mRNA

Estrogen has been shown to influence several brain functions as well as the expression of neuropsychiatric diseases. To date, two estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes have been identified, ER alpha and ER beta. ER alpha messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) distribution in the human forebrain was recently characterized, and the highest expression was found in restricted areas of the amygdala and hypothalamus. However, no information exists with regard to ERP mRNA distribution in the human brain. To this end, the anatomical distribution pattern of ER beta mRNA expression in the human forebrain was investigated in the present study. Overall, the ER beta mRNA hybridization signal was relatively low, but the most abundant ER beta mRNA areas were the hippocampal formation (primarily the subiculum), claustrum, and cerebral cortex; expression was also present in the subthalamic nucleus and thalamus (ventral lateral nucleus). In contrast to ER alpha (studied on adjacent brain sections), ER beta mRNA expression was low in the hypothalamus and amygdala. Based on the revealed anatomical distribution of the human ER beta gene expression, a putative role for ER beta in the modulation of cognition, memory, and motor functions is suggested.