Distribution of estrogen receptors α and β mRNA in mouse urogenital tissues and their expression after oophorectomy and estrogen replacement

Estrogen receptors are present in the urogenital tract. However, little is known about the quantitative distribution of the traditional estrogen receptor (ERα) mRNA and the recently identified ERβ mRNA. By quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, the distributions of ERα and ERβ mRNA in mouse urogenital tissues and their expression in selected urogenital tissues after oophorectomy, with or without estrogen replacement, were evaluated. ERα mRNA concentrations were higher in the ovary, oviduct, uterus and vagina than in the kidney, ureter or bladder ( P <0.05); ERβ transcripts were highest in the ovary, oviduct and bladder ( P <0.05). After oophorectomy and estrogen replacement, significant changes were identified in ERα and ERβ mRNA expression. ERα and ERβ mRNA are differentially expressed in mouse urogenital tissues. Oophorectomy and estrogen replacement affect estrogen receptors differently in the bladder, vagina and uterus. These results may explain some tissue-specific responses to estrogen and selective estrogen receptor modulators. Summary: The mRNA distributions of estrogen receptors α and β and their expression after oophorectomy, with or without estrogen replacement, differ in mouse urogenital tissues.