Androgen Receptor is Expressed in Murine Choroid Plexus and Downregulated by 5α-Dihydrotestosterone in Male and Female Mice

The choroid plexuses (CPs) of the brain form a unique interface between the peripheral blood and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CPs produce several neuroprotective peptides, which are secreted into the CSF. Despite their importance in neuroprotection, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of most of these peptides in CPs remain unknown. Androgens regulate the expression of neuroprotective peptides in several tissues where the androgen receptor (AR) is coexpressed, including the brain. The presence of AR in CPs has never been investigated, but recent studies in our laboratory show that the CP is an androgen-responsive tissue. In order to fulfill this gap, we investigated and characterized AR distribution and expression in male and female rat CPs and in primary cultures from rat CP epithelial cells. In addition, the response of AR to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in castrated male and female mice subjected to DHT replacement was analyzed. We show that rat CP epithelial cells contain AR mRNA and protein. Moreover, we demonstrate that AR is downregulated by DHT in mice CPs.