Previous work from our laboratory has shown that in cultures of hypothalamic neurons obtained from male fetuses at embryonic day 16, the axogenic response to estrogen (E2) is contingent on coculture with target glia or target glia-conditioned media (CM). Neither the estrogen receptor blockers tamoxifen nor ICI 182,780 prevented the axogenic effects of the hormone. Estradiol made membrane-impermeable by conjugation to a protein of high molecular weight (E2-BSA) preserved its axogenic capacity, suggesting the possibility of a membrane effect responsible for the action of E2. Western blot analysis of extracts from homogenates of cultured neurons grown with E2 and CM from target glia had more TrkB than cultures with CM alone or E2 alone. To further investigate the interaction between E2 and the neurotrophin receptors, we used a specific antisense oligonucleotide (AS) to prevent the estradiol-induced increase of TrkB. The effect of E2 was suppressed in cultures in which TrkB was down-regulated by the AS, showing decreased axonal elongation when compared with neurons treated with E2 without AS or with sense TrkB. In cultures grown with AS, the axonal length of E2-treated cultures was not different from cultures without E2. Evidence suggesting cross-talk between E2 and neurotrophic factor(s) prompted investigation of signaling along the MAPK cascade. Immuno blotting of E2-treated cultures showed increased levels of phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2. UO126 but not LY294002 blocked E2-induced axonal elongation, suggesting that the MAPKs are involved in this response.