Localization of estrogen receptors and estrogen receptor-mRNA in female mouse thymus.

Abstract

The present study was performed to demonstrate estrogen receptor (ER) and ER-mRNA in female mouse thymus. The results are as follows: (i) thymic tissue contains ER in both reticuloepithelial(RE)- and T-cell fractions, the ER level being three-fold higher in the former fraction than in the latter; and (ii) thymic tissue contains ER-mRNA at 6.2 kb, a large amount of which was localized in the RE cells and less in the T cells. From these results it is suggested that estrogen (E) mediates some immune function of the mouse thymus through its receptor within RE cells and/or T cells.