Development and Characterization of Inducible Astrocyte-Specific Aromatase Knockout Mice

Authors

Jing Wang
Uday P Pratap
Yujiao Lu
Gangadhara R Sareddy
Rajeshwar R Tekmal
Ratna K Vadlamudi
Darrell W Brann

Language

English

Publication Date

4-19-2023

Journal

B\iology

DOI

10.3390/biology12040621

PMID

37106821

PMCID

PMC10135694

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

4-19-2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

17β-estradiol (E2) is produced in the brain as a neurosteroid, in addition to being an endocrine signal in the periphery. The current animal models for studying brain-derived E2 include global and conditional non-inducible knockout mouse models. The aim of this study was to develop a tamoxifen (TMX)-inducible astrocyte-specific aromatase knockout mouse line (GFAP-ARO-iKO mice) to specifically deplete the E2 synthesis enzymes and aromatase in astrocytes after their development in adult mice. The characterization of the GFAP-ARO-iKO mice revealed a specific and robust depletion in the aromatase expressions of their astrocytes and a significant decrease in their hippocampal E2 levels after a GCI. The GFAP-ARO-iKO animals were alive and fertile and had a normal general brain anatomy, with a normal astrocyte shape, intensity, and distribution. In the hippocampus, after a GCI, the GFAP-ARO-iKO animals showed a major deficiency in their reactive astrogliosis, a dramatically increased neuronal loss, and increased microglial activation. These findings indicate that astrocyte-derived E2 (ADE2) regulates the ischemic induction of reactive astrogliosis and microglial activation and is neuroprotective in the ischemic brain. The GFAP-ARO-iKO mouse models thus provide an important new model to help elucidate the roles and functions of ADE2 in the brain.

Keywords

estradiol, neuroestrogen, neurosteroid, aromatase, cerebral ischemia, astrocyte, microglia

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Wang, Jing; Pratap, Uday P; Lu, Yujiao; et al., "Development and Characterization of Inducible Astrocyte-Specific Aromatase Knockout Mice" (2023). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 6626.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthgsbs_docs/6626