# BRAIN AROMATASE ACTIVITY AND REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 1993 · $162,048

## Abstract

The purpose of this application is to generate new information about the
localization of brain aromatase activity (AA) and its control by
androgen in nonhuman primates and laboratory rodents.

In the previous grant period we described the distribution of AA in
monkey and rat brains and provided evidence for androgen dependent and
independent control mechanisms.  We demonstrated that AA and AR are
heterogeneously distributed in discrete regions of the brain and that
they colocalize in the same areas, thus providing a cellular component
for androgens to exert their effects.  Aromatase activity in the brain
decreased after castration and was restored to normal levels following
androgen treatment.  In this renewal application we hope to extend the
work begun in the first grant period to include experiments that probe
the cellular events that underlie the biological function of AA in the
mammalian brain.

We hypothesize that the state of refractoriness to the feedback action
of T on gonadotropin secretion that we observed in rhesus monkeys after
castration occurs because of estrogen deficiency.  Our experiments will
address the physiological role of in situ estrogen production in
gonadotropin control in nonhuman primates and rodents and in rodent
sexual behavior.  Using molecular probes for aromatase P-450 and AR that
are now available to use we hope to use the tools of molecular biology
to investigate the distribution and control of mRNA  and AR in male rats
and rhesus monkeys.  In this way we hope to elucidate some of the steps
that constitute the "gray area" between androgen binding to its receptor
and the induction of AA.

Finally, we suspect that a complex series of interactions exists between
the in situ production of estrogen within the nervous system, the
synthesis and activation of the AR and the inductive effects of androgen
on AA.  the proposed experiment address some of these issues.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2197599
- **Project number:** 5R01HD018196-10
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NPSNT86JKN51
- **Principal Investigator:** JOHN A RESKO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $162,048
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-09-01 → 1995-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2197599

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2197599, BRAIN AROMATASE ACTIVITY AND REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION (5R01HD018196-10). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2197599. Licensed CC0.

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