Tissue distribution and quantitative analysis of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) and estrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta) messenger ribonucleic acid in the wild-type and ERalpha-knockout mouse.

Until recently, only a single type of estrogen receptor (ER) was thought to exist and mediate the genomic effects of the hormone 17beta-estradiol in mammalian tissues. However, the cloning of a gene encoding a second type of ER, termed ERbeta, from the mouse, rat, and human has prompted a reevaluation of the estrogen signaling system. Based on in vitro studies, the ERbeta protein binds estradiol with an affinity similar to that of the classical ER (now referred to as ERalpha) and is able to mediate the effects of estradiol in transfected mammalian cell lines. Essential to further investigations of the possible physiological roles of ERbeta, and its possible interactions with ERalpha, are data on the tissue distribution of the two ER types. Herein, we have described the optimization and use of an RNase protection assay able to detect and distinguish messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts from both the ERalpha and ERbeta genes in the mouse. Because this assay is directly quantitative, a comparison of the levels of expression within various tissues was possible. In addition, the effect of disruption of the ERalpha gene on the expression of the ERbeta gene was also investigated using the ERalpha-knockout (ERKO) mouse. Transcripts encoding ERalpha were detected in all the wild-type tissues assayed from both sexes. In the female reproductive tract, the highest expression of ERbeta mRNA was observed in the ovary and showed great variation among individual animals; detectable levels were observed in the uterus and oviduct, whereas mammary tissue was negative. In the male reproductive tract, significant expression of ERbeta was seen in the prostate and epididymis, whereas the testes were negative. In other tissues of both sexes, the hypothalamus and lung were clearly positive for both ERalpha and ERbeta mRNA. The ERKO mice demonstrated slightly reduced levels of ERbeta mRNA in the ovary, prostate, and epididymis. These data, in combination with the several described phenotypes in both sexes of the ERKO mouse, suggest that the biological functions of the ERbeta protein may be dependent on the presence of ERalpha in certain cell types and tissues. Further characterization of the physiological phenotypes in the ERKO mice may elucidate possible ERbeta specific actions.