Demonstration of androgen-binding protein gene expression in primary neuronal and astrocyte cultures

Molecular and Cellular Neurosciences
D R JosephC F Deschepper

Abstract

Testicular androgen-binding protein (ABP) and liver (plasma) sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are extracellular carrier proteins. They are encoded by the same gene and have the identical primary amino acid sequence. The ABP/SHBG gene is also expressed in rat brain; immunoreactive neurons are located throughout the male and female brain and immunoreactive fibers are present in the ventral hypothalamus. ABP/SHBG RNA transcripts are synthesized from two promoters, P(1) and P(A). P(1) regulates synthesis of the mRNA that encodes secreted ABP, whereas, a P(A) mRNA encodes a nonsecreted ABP-like protein without steroid binding properties. P(A) and P(1) transcripts are expressed in the brain. In this study, we demonstrated by Northern hybridization analysis that primary neuronal and astrocyte cultures express ABP mRNA. PCR analysis of ABP cDNA revealed that astroglia express transcripts originating from promoters P(1) and P(A), whereas, neuronal cDNAs contain primarily PA transcripts. These ABP cDNA-hybridizing products represent mRNAs that encode secreted ABP and the nonsecreted ABP-like protein. Furthermore, it was shown by immunohistochemistry that cultured astrocytes contain immunoreactive ABP. Western blots of astrocyte protei...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 1, 1997·The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·M OrchinikB S McEwen

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