Estrogen receptors alpha and beta in the inner ear of the 'Turner mouse' and an estrogen receptor beta knockout mouse.

Estrogen receptors have earlier been shown in the normal mouse, rat and human inner ear. If estrogens are important in normal hearing and development of presbyacusis in the normal population is not known. However it is known that patients with Turner syndrome, where a lack of estrogens is one of the main characteristics, commonly develop an early presbyacusis. A 'Turner mouse' has been developed, as a model for the ear problems in Turner syndrome, and it shows otitis media and a premature aging of the hearing. Estrogen receptors exist in an alpha and a beta form. In this study inner ear tissue, from the Turner mouse and an estrogen receptor beta knockout mouse (betaERKO), was investigated regarding estrogen receptor alpha and beta using immunohistochemistry. Results show that the Turner mouse has the same pattern of inner ear labeling, both concerning the estrogen receptor alpha and beta, as that of a normal CBA/Ca mouse, with positive staining in the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion. The betaERKO mice show close to normal inner ear morphology and positive estrogen receptor alpha immunostaining at the same locations as the CBA/Ca mouse.