Sry Gene Expression In The Sympathetic Nervous System Of The Rat

The Sry gene has a well established role in testes determination. However, we have reported Sry gene expression in the adult adrenal gland and that blood pressure, plasma norepinephrine and tyrosine hydroxylase content increased following exogenous delivery of the Sry gene into the adrenal medulla. We have observed changes in Sry expression in stress responsive areas of the brain, and have co‐localized Sry and tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) in both the adrenal medulla and various brain areas. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the involvement of the androgen receptor on Sry and Th expression in sympathetic ganglia of the rat. We measured gene expression in celiac ganglia of males lacking functional androgen receptors (testicular feminized males, Tfm) and sibling males having normal receptors. Male WKY rats were crossed to King‐Holtzman Tfm carrier females. Litters yielded normal males and Tfm siblings. All animals were terminated at 12 weeks of age and gene expression was measured by quantitative RT‐PCR. Expression of Sry and Th genes in both groups was measured. In all samples expression of Sry paralleled expression levels of Th which suggests that Th expression is regulated by Sry and not through an androgen receptor‐mediated mechanism. (Supported by NIH 1RO1HL71579‐01A3)