The distributions of the duplicate oestrogen receptors ER-βa and ER-βb in the forebrain of the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus): evidence for subfunctionalization after gene duplication

Teleost fishes have three distinct oestrogen receptor (ER) subtypes: ER-α, ER-βa (or ER-γ) and ER-βb. ER-βa and ER-βb arose from a duplication of an ancestral ER-β gene early in the teleost lineage. Here, we describe the distribution of the three ER mRNAs in the hypothalamus and cerebellum of the Atlantic croaker to address two issues: the specific functions of multiple ERs in the neuroendocrine system and the evolution and fate of duplicated genes. ER-α was detected in nuclei of the preoptic area (POA) and hypothalamus previously shown to possess ER-αs in teleosts. AcER-βb, but not ER-βa, labelling was detected in the magnocellular neurons of the POA, nucleus posterior tuberis, the nucleus recessus posterior and cerebellum. By contrast, acER-βa, but not ER-βb, was detected in the dorsal anterior parvocellular POA and suprachiasmatic nucleus. Both ER-βs were found in posterior parvocellular and ventral anterior POA nuclei, the ventral hypothalamus, and periventricular dorsal hypothalamus. The differences we observed in ER subtype mRNA distribution within well-characterized brain nuclei suggest that ER-βa and ER-βb have distinct functions in the neuroendocrine control of reproduction and behaviour, and provide evidence that the teleost ER-β paralogues have partitioned functions of the ancestral ER-β gene they shared with tetrapods.