Purpose: To test the possibility that estrogen has a direct effect on corneal cells, the possible occurrence of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta) in the cornea of mice was examined.
Methods: To test for the occurrence of ER proteins in the cornea of mice, an immunocytochemical method was used. To test for the occurrence of ER mRNAs in the cornea of mice, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used.
Results: Immunocytochemical examination revealed that both ERalpha and ERbeta exist in the cell nuclei of corneal epithelial, stromal, and endothelial cells of both male and female mice. RT-PCR revealed that RNAs of ERs occur in the cornea of both male and female mice.
Conclusions: Because ERalpha and ERbeta occur in corneal cells of mice, estrogen may exert biological functions in corneal cells through direct interaction with these ERs.