Abstract
BRAIN cytosol from foetal and neonatal rodents contains high concentrations of an oestradiol-binding protein (foetoneonatal oestradiol-binding protein or FEBP) with properties distinctly different from those of adult oestrogen receptors with respect to sedimentation rate, binding specificity and affinity for oestradiol1–3; FEBP declines to undetectable levels by about 22 d in rat brain cytosol1,2. Sexual differentiation of the rodent brain, which normally occurs under the influence of testicular secretions between birth and about 10 d, can also be brought about by injection of oestradiol benzoate into neonatal female or castrated male rodents4. This observation has led to the idea that FEBP protects the developing brain against the effects of maternal oestrogens5. It has been suggested that FEBP in rats is α foetoprotein (AFP)6, a circulating foetal protein known to bind oestradiol7–9. Here we present evidence which points strongly to the identity of mouse FEBP and AFP. This includes a comparison of the binding properties of FEBP with those of purified mouse AFP, correlation of the postnatal disappearance of FEBP with measurements of AFP in brain cytosol and removal of oestradiol-binding activity from brain cytosol using anti-mouse AFP antibodies.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Plapinger, L., McEwen, B. S., and Clemens, L. E., Endocrinology, 93, 1129–1139 (1973).
Kato, J., Atsumi, Y., and Inaba, M., Endocrinology, 94, 309–317 (1974).
Fox, T. O., Nature, 258, 441–444 (1975).
Gorski, R. A., J. Reprod. Fert., Suppl., 1, 67–88 (1966).
McEwen, B. S., Plapinger, L., Chaptal, C., Gerlach, J., and Wallach, G., Brain, Res., 96, 400–406 (1975).
Plapinger, L., and McEwen, B., Steroids, 26, 255–265 (1975).
Savu, L., et al., FEBS Lett., 22, 113–116 (1972).
Uriel, J., de Nechaud, B., and Dupiers, M., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 46, 1175–1180 (1972).
Aussel, C., Uriel, J., and Mercier-Bodard, C., Biochimie, 55, 1431–1437 (1973).
Pihko, H., and Ruoslahti, E., Int. J. Cancer, 12, 354–360 (1973).
Ruoslahti, E., Pihko, H., and Seppälä, M., Transplant. Rev., 20, 38–60 (1974).
Scatchard, G., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 51, 660–672 (1949).
Attardi, B., and Ohno, S., Endocrinology (in the press).
Barley, J., Ginsburg, M., Greenstein, B. D., MacLusky, N. J., and Thomas, P. J., Nature, 252, 259–260 (1974).
Nunez, E., Valleti, G., Benassayag, C., and Jayle, M. F., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun., 57, 126–133 (1974).
Swartz, S. K., Soloff, M. S., and Suriano, R. R., in Colloquium on Alphafetorotein (edit. by Masseyeff, R.), 97–108 (INSERM, Paris, 1974).
Ruoslahti, E., and Terry, W. D., Nature, 260, 804–805 (1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
ATTARDI, B., RUOSLAHTI, E. Foetoneonatal oestradiol-binding protein in mouse brain cytosol is α foetoprotein. Nature 263, 685–687 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/263685a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/263685a0
This article is cited by
-
Male-like sexual behavior of female mouse lacking fucose mutarotase
BMC Genetics (2010)
-
The special case of hormonal imprinting, the neonatal influence of sex
Experientia (1986)
-
Coexistence of α-fetoprotein, albumin and transferrin immunoreactivity in neurones of the developing mouse brain
Nature (1980)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.