Functional analysis of steroid metabolizing enzymes in the rat retina

神经类固醇是由中枢神经系统中的胆固醇或其他类固醇前体合成的。最近的研究表明，神经类固醇是在视网膜中产生的，通过调节神经传递来影响神经元的功能。然而，目前还不清楚类固醇代谢酶在视网膜中的位置以及它们对视网膜生理的作用。5α-还原酶和5β-还原酶分别催化睾酮和孕酮转化为5α还原和5β还原代谢产物。在雄激素中，5α-二氢睾酮是由睾酮通过类固醇5α-还原酶产生的，它比睾酮具有更强的促雄激素作用。在这里，我们用免疫组织化学的方法研究了类固醇代谢酶在大鼠视网膜的定位。

Neurosteroids are synthesized from cholesterol or other steroidal precursors in the central nervous system. Recent studies have shown that neurosteroids are produced in the retina and affect neuronal functions by modulating neurotransmissions. However, it is unclear where the steroid metabolizing enzymes are located in the retina and how they contribute to the retinal physiology. The enzymes 5alpha-reductase and 5beta-reductase catalyze the transformation of testosterone and progesterone into 5alpha-reduced and 5beta-reduced metabolites, respectively. Among androgens, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, which is produced from testosterone by the enzyme steroid 5alpha-reductase, is more potent androgenic effects than testosterone. Here, we investigated the localization of the steroid metabolizing enzymes in the rat retina by using immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies.