17beta-estradiol: effect on CA1 hippocampal synaptic plasticity.
An understanding of synaptic plasticity in the mammalian brain has been one of R. F. Thompson's major pursuits throughout his illustrious career. A current series of experiments of significant interest to R. F. Thompson is an examination of the interactions between sex hormones, synaptic plasticity, aging, and stress. This research is contained within a broader project whose aim is to investigate animal models that evaluate estrogen interactions with Alzheimer's disease. This paper reviews the recent results that have led to a better understanding of how the sex hormone estrogen influences synaptic plasticity in an important structure within the mammalian brain responsible for learning and memory: the hippocampus. In this review, a number of experiments have been highlighted that investigate the molecular mechanisms that underlie estrogen's effect on two specific forms of synaptic plasticity commonly studied in neurophysiology and the behavioral neurosciences: long-term potentiation and long-term depression.
Foy
M R
MR
Department of Psychology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California 90045-8405, USA. mfoy@lmu.edu
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D004958:Estradiol