Abstract
3α-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the brain is responsible for production of neuroactive tetrahydrosteroids that interact with the major inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor complexes. Distribution of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in different regions of the brain in rats was evaluated by activity assay and by Western immunoblottin using a monoclonal antibody against liver 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase as the probe. The olfactory bulb was found to contain the highest level of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity, while moderate levels of the enzyme activity were found in other regions such as cerebellum, cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and pituitary. Some activities were found in the rest of the brain such as amygdala, brain stem, caudate putamen, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, midbrain, and thalamus. The protein levels of 3α- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in different regions of the brain as detected by Western immunoblotting are comparable to those of the enzyme activity. No sexual dimorphism was found in either the concentration levels or the activities of the brain 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. At the time of birth, the rat brain already expresses a significant level of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; the levels of brain 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in rats continue to rise during the first week after their birth, and reach a plateau thereafter.
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