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Progesterone and its metabolites increase myelin basic protein expression in organotypic slice cultures of rat cerebellum

Progesterone and its metabolites increase myelin basic protein expression in organotypic slice... We have previously shown that progesterone (PROG) is synthesized by Schwann cells and promotes myelin formation in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). We now report that this neurosteroid also stimulates myelination in organotypic slice cultures of 7‐day‐old (P7) rat and mouse cerebellum. Myelination was evaluated by immunofluorescence analysis of the myelin basic protein (MBP). After 7 days in culture (7DIV), we found that adding PROG (2–5 × 10−5 M) to the culture medium caused a fourfold increase in MBP expression when compared to control slices. The effect of PROG on MBP expression involves the classical intracellular PROG receptor (PR): the selective PR agonist R5020 significantly increased MBP expression and the PR antagonist mifepristone (RU486) completely abolished the effect of PROG on this MBP expression. Moreover, treatment of P7‐cerebellar slice cultures from PR knockout (PRKO) mice with PROG had no significant effect on MBP expression. PROG was metabolized in the cerebellar slices to 5α‐dihydroprogesterone (5α‐DHP) and to the GABAA receptor‐active metabolite 3α,5α‐tetrahydroprogesterone (3α,5α‐THP, allopregnanolone). The 5α‐reductase inhibitor L685‐273 partially inhibited the effect of PROG, and 3α,5α‐THP (2–5 × 10−5 M) significantly stimulated the MBP expression, although to a lesser extent than PROG. The increase in MBP expression by 3α,5α‐THP involved GABAA receptors, as it could be inhibited by the selective GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline. These findings suggest that progestins stimulate MBP expression and consequently suggest an increase in CNS myelination via two signalling systems, the intracellular PR and membrane GABAA receptors, and they confirm a new role of GABAA receptors in myelination. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Neurochemistry Wiley

Progesterone and its metabolites increase myelin basic protein expression in organotypic slice cultures of rat cerebellum

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References (68)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 Wiley Subscription Services
ISSN
0022-3042
eISSN
1471-4159
DOI
10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01881.x
Publisher site
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Abstract

We have previously shown that progesterone (PROG) is synthesized by Schwann cells and promotes myelin formation in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). We now report that this neurosteroid also stimulates myelination in organotypic slice cultures of 7‐day‐old (P7) rat and mouse cerebellum. Myelination was evaluated by immunofluorescence analysis of the myelin basic protein (MBP). After 7 days in culture (7DIV), we found that adding PROG (2–5 × 10−5 M) to the culture medium caused a fourfold increase in MBP expression when compared to control slices. The effect of PROG on MBP expression involves the classical intracellular PROG receptor (PR): the selective PR agonist R5020 significantly increased MBP expression and the PR antagonist mifepristone (RU486) completely abolished the effect of PROG on this MBP expression. Moreover, treatment of P7‐cerebellar slice cultures from PR knockout (PRKO) mice with PROG had no significant effect on MBP expression. PROG was metabolized in the cerebellar slices to 5α‐dihydroprogesterone (5α‐DHP) and to the GABAA receptor‐active metabolite 3α,5α‐tetrahydroprogesterone (3α,5α‐THP, allopregnanolone). The 5α‐reductase inhibitor L685‐273 partially inhibited the effect of PROG, and 3α,5α‐THP (2–5 × 10−5 M) significantly stimulated the MBP expression, although to a lesser extent than PROG. The increase in MBP expression by 3α,5α‐THP involved GABAA receptors, as it could be inhibited by the selective GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline. These findings suggest that progestins stimulate MBP expression and consequently suggest an increase in CNS myelination via two signalling systems, the intracellular PR and membrane GABAA receptors, and they confirm a new role of GABAA receptors in myelination.

Journal

Journal of Neurochemistry – Wiley

Published: Jan 1, 2003

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