Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Three Dimensional Vestibular Ocular Reflex Testing Using a Six Degrees of Freedom Motion Platform
Published on: May 23, 2013
Hormone receptors in vestibular schwannomas
R S Carroll1, J P Zhang, P M Black
1Neurosurgical Laboratories, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA.
Abstract:
The possibility that steroid hormones play a role in vestibular schwannoma proliferation has been suggested by a number of investigators. There is conflicting information about the presence of steroid hormone receptors in these tumors. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of androgen, progesterone, glucocorticoid and estrogen receptor messenger ribonucleic acid levels (mRNA) in twenty-one vestibular schwannomas by either Northern blot analysis or the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Glucocorticoid receptor mRNA was expressed in all twenty-one tumors examined. Only two male specimens were positive for androgen receptor mRNA expression by PCR-Southern blot analysis. Thirty-three percent of the schwannomas (7/21) showed a strong band for progesterone receptor mRNA by PCR-Southern blot analysis; there were an equal number of males and females in this group. Estrogen receptor mRNA levels were undetectable in all tumors examined by PCR-Southern blot analysis. These studies suggest that the pattern of steroid receptor expression is different in schwannomas than in meningiomas. Individual vestibular schwannomas need to be examined for their steroid receptor mRNA expression mRNA expression to know whether they will be responsive.
Related Concept Videos
The Vestibular System
Intracellular Hormone Receptors
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Equilibrium and Balance

