Estradiol Acts Directly and Indirectly on Multiple Signaling Pathways to Phosphorylate cAMP-Response Element Binding Protein in GnRH Neurons

Rapid, nonclassical 17 beta-estradiol (E2) actions are thought to play an important role in the modulation of neuronal function. The present study addresses the intracellular signaling cascades involved in the rapid E2-induced phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in GnRH neurons. Administration of E2 to adult female mice resulted in the activation of ERK1/2 in GnRH neurons within 15 min. In vitro studies using pharmacological antagonists showed that ERK1/2 was essential for E2-induced CREB phosphorylation in GnRH neurons. Upstream to this, protein kinase A and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II, but not protein kinase C, were found to be necessary for E2-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2. This rapid E2 signaling cascade in GnRH neurons was found to require both direct and indirect E2 actions. E2 failed to phosphorylate ERK1/2 and CREB in GnRH neuron-specific estrogen receptor beta knockout mice in vivo. Equally, however, a cocktail of tetrodotoxin and gamma-aminobutyric acid(A)/glutamate receptor antagonists also blocked E2-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in GnRH neurons in wild-type mice in vitro. Together, these observations indicate that E2 acts through calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II and protein kinase A to rapidly phosphorylate ERK1/2, which then acts to phosphorylate CREB in adult female GnRH neurons. Intriguingly, these effects of E2 are dependent upon both direct ER beta mechanisms as well as indirect actions mediated by afferent inputs to GnRH neurons. (Endocrinology 153: 3792-3803, 2012)