| Budget Amount *help |
¥2,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥1,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000)
Fiscal Year 2002: ¥900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000)
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| Research Abstract |
Recent studies have reported that estrogen regulates the activity of dopaminergic neurons (DA neurons) and may affect mood, cognition, and psychosis. Some authors have hypothesized of puerperal psychosis that serum estrogen level may play a role for psychotic symptoms. Changes in immune activation markers during puerperal period such as increased soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels have been also reported. Interleukin-2 (IL-2), which has been shown to modulate DA neurons as well, may be related to cognitive dysfunction and schizophrenia. Thus, changes in serum estrogen level and immune system, both of which affect DA neurons, may be involved in psychotic symptoms during puerperal period. However, it remains unclear how estrogen and IL-2 interact on modulating DA neurons. In the present study, distribution of interleukin-2 receptor α subunit (IL-2Rα) and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in the rat central DA neurons were investigated using triple immunohistochemistry and confocal microscope. Present results showed colocalization of IL-2Rα and ERβ immunoreactivity in DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area, sustantia nigra pars compacta, and arcuate nucleus. This suggests that IL-2 and estrogen interact on regulating the activity of DA neurons mediated by IL-2 receptor and ERβ. Present study suggests the neuro-immuno-endcrinological modulation in the ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra pars compacta, and arcuate nucleus and provides the morphological foundation for the etiological hypothesis of puerperal psychosis.
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