HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Naftolin, F. Articles by Balthazart, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Naftolin, F. Articles by Balthazart, J.

---

MINIREVIEW

Estrogen Synthetase (Aromatase) Immunohistochemistry Reveals Concordance Between Avian and Rodent Limbic Systems and Hypothalami

Frederick Naftolin^*,1, Tamas L. Horvath^* and Jacques Balthazart

^* Reproductive Neuroscience Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Research in Reproductive Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520;
Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Research Group in Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, University of Liége, B-4020 Liége, Belgium

During amniote evolution, an early divergence occurred about 300 million years ago between the reptilian lines leading to the appearance of birds (anapsids) and mammals (synapsids). The different functional requirements of these vertebrate groups have involved divergent evolution of their brains. Even superficial examination reveals major anatomical differences between mammalian and avian brains, such as extensive development of the optic lobes and cerebellum in birds and a highly developed cortex in mammals. It has been nearly impossible to identify avian homologs of some mammalian brain regions by standard morphological criteria. This has long frustrated efforts at clarifying hypotheses regarding the anatomical location, field size, and regulation of brain functions shared between these two classes, despite the certainty that the principles of neurobiology apply equally at the cellular level in both groups. In an effort to remove this barrier, we have sought markers of common function that despite apparent anatomical dissimilarity, can allow recognition of homologous brain structures. We illustrate here how comparative analysis of the distribution of the steroid-metabolizing enzyme estrogen synthetase (aromatase) may help to understand the differences and similarities in the limbic system and hypothalamus of birds and mammals.

Key Words: limbic system • preoptic area • aromatase • quail • rodent

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Q. Gao and T. L. Horvath Cross-talk between estrogen and leptin signaling in the hypothalamus Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 2008; 294(5): E817 - E826. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Mitsushima, K. Takase, T. Funabashi, and F. Kimura Gonadal Steroid Hormones Maintain the Stress-Induced Acetylcholine Release in the Hippocampus: Simultaneous Measurements of the Extracellular Acetylcholine and Serum Corticosterone Levels in the Same Subjects Endocrinology, February 1, 2008; 149(2): 802 - 811. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Matagne, M.-C. Lebrethon, A. Gerard, and J.-P. Bourguignon Kainate/Estrogen Receptor Involvement in Rapid Estradiol Effects in Vitro and Intracellular Signaling Pathways Endocrinology, May 1, 2005; 146(5): 2313 - 2323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]