Involvement of estrogen receptor β in maintenance of serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe

The serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe (DR) nucleus in the CNS are involved in fear, anxiety and depression. Depression and anxiety occur quite frequently in postmenopausal women, but estrogen replacement to correct these CNS disorders is at present not favored because estrogen carries with it an increased risk for breast cancer. Serotonin synthesis, release and reuptake in the DR are targets of pharmaceuticals in the treatment of depression. In the present study we have examined by immunohistochemistry, the expression of two nuclear receptors, that is, the estrogen receptors ER alpha and ER beta. We found that ER beta but not ER alpha is strongly expressed in the DR and there is no sex difference and no change with ageing in the number of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)-positive neurons in the DR of wild-type (WT) mice. However, in ovariectomized (OVX) WT and in ER beta(-/-) mice, there was a marked reduction in the number of TPH-positive normal-looking neurons and a marked increase in TPH-positive spindle-shaped cells. These neuronal changes were prevented in mice 1-3 weeks (but not 10 weeks) after OVX by the selective ER beta agonist, LY3201, given as continuous release pellets for 3 days. The ER beta agonist had no effects on glucose homeostasis. Thus, the onset of action of the ER beta agonist is rapid but there is a limited window in time after estrogen loss when the drug is useful. We conclude that, rather than estradiol, ER beta agonists could be useful pharmaceuticals in maintaining functional DR neurons to treat postmenopausal depression.