EN
The aim of the study was to trace the ERα immunoreactivity in the hippocampal astrocytes of ovariectomized rabbits with and without the application of 17β-estradiol. The study comprised sexually mature female rabbits that had undergone ovariectomy. The animals were divided into two experimental groups. Group I comprised of the ovariectomized rabbits and group II . the ovariectomized animals treated with 17β -estradiol. The immunocytochemical reaction was conducted with the application of two antibodies against estrogen receptors a. In the ovariectomized rabbits which did not receive 17β -estradiol the astrocytes were characterized by ERα immunoreactivity. Similarly in group II expression of ERα was found in the hippocampus astrocytes following the application of 17β -estradiol. In astrocytes, these receptors are located in the cell body and initial processes and rarely in cell nuclei. The results suggest that astrocytes are the target cells for estrogens, changing their function and modulating hippocampal neuron activity.