Immunolocalisation of α and β Oestrogen Receptors in Basolateral Amygdala of Rabbit Males

Expression of α (ER-α) and β (ER-ß) oestrogen receptors in neurons of basolateral complex of the amygdala was studied in rabbit males. The examinations were carried out on brains of 12 sexually mature rabbit males weighing 3-4 kg. An immunohistochemical method (IHC) with primary Er-α antibodies, NCL-L6F11 and Er-ß: NCL-ERbeta clone EMR02 was applied. The percentage of immunoreactive neurons was determined. Morphometric and statistical analysis of immunoreactive (ER+) neurons was carried out including the localisation of IHC reaction within the examined neurons. The main place of IHC-ER-α reaction was the cytoplasm of nervous cells, whereas in the examination of IHC-ER-β, the reaction was observed mainly within cell nucleus. The nuclei of basolateral complex are a region of relatively high percentage of ER-β+ neurons and lower percentage of ER-α+ neurons in comparison with other nuclei of the amygdala. Basolateral nucleus was characterised by a higher percentage of ER- β+ neurons in which the reaction was observed in the cytoplasm.