Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate on brain tissue in culture and on memory in mice.
Low concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) enhanced neuronal and glial survival and/or differentiation in dissociated cultures of 14-day mouse embryo brain. Posttrial intracisternal injection into the brains of mice undergoing active avoidance training alleviated amnesia and enhanced long-term memory. By minimizing degenerative changes in injured nerve tissue and facilitating plastic changes, DHEA and DHEAS may be of use in treatment of neurodegenerative and memory disorders in man.
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate