{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:49:39Z","timestamp":1787028579343,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,15]],"date-time":"2026-01-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768435200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a critical component of the gut\u2013brain axis, playing a pivotal role in gastrointestinal homeostasis and systemic health. Emerging evidence suggests that ENS dysfunction precedes central neurodegenerative disorders. Progesterone, known for its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties in the central nervous system (CNS), has received growing attention for its potential role in ENS physiology. This study aimed to map the expression of nuclear and membrane-bound progesterone receptors in the human ENS, considering regional intestinal, sex, and age variations. Immunofluorescence and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) were used to evaluate receptor distribution in anatomically distinct intestinal regions. Consistent expression of classical nuclear progesterone receptors (PR-A\/B) and the non-classical Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) in myenteric ganglion cells across all intestinal segments was observed. RT-PCR confirmed the expression of PR-A\/B, PGRMC1, mPR\u03b1, and mPR\u03b2, with regional variations. Sex-specific patterns were evident along with age-related downregulation. Our findings provide a detailed characterization of progesterone receptor expression in human ENS, highlighting sex- and age-dependent regulation. The identification of progesterone signaling within the myenteric plexus suggests a hormonal influence in gut\u2013brain communication. Targeting ENS progesterone receptors may open novel therapeutic avenues to modulate neurodegenerative CNS disorders via peripheral intervention along the gut\u2013brain axis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms27020863","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,15]],"date-time":"2026-01-15T12:31:41Z","timestamp":1768480301000},"page":"863","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Progesterone Receptor Expression in the Human Enteric Nervous System"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-8056-2518","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Naemi","family":"Kallabis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Anatomy, Department of Cytology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paula Maria","family":"Neufeld","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Anatomy, Department of Cytology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexandra","family":"Yurchenko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Anatomy, Department of Cytology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"},{"name":"International Graduate School of Neuroscience (IGSN), Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9717-4485","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Veronika","family":"Matschke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Anatomy, Department of Cytology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"},{"name":"International Graduate School of Neuroscience (IGSN), Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ralf","family":"Nettersheim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Visceral Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, 44789 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1782-4642","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matthias","family":"Vorgerd","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, 44789 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7983-0143","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carsten","family":"Theiss","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Anatomy, Department of Cytology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"},{"name":"International Graduate School of Neuroscience (IGSN), Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah","family":"Stahlke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Anatomy, Department of Cytology, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"},{"name":"International Graduate School of Neuroscience (IGSN), Ruhr-University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"286","DOI":"10.1038\/nrgastro.2012.32","article-title":"The enteric nervous system and neurogastroenterology","volume":"9","author":"Furness","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nat. 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