Viral vector-mediated blockade of the endocrine stress-response modulates non-spatial memory.
Stress results in the release of glucocorticoids (GCs) which at high levels, impair performance on hippocampus-dependent tasks. Estrogen is neurotrophic and can rescue stress-induced memory impairments. Here we report the use of a viral vector to overexpress a chimeric gene (ER/GR) that converts the deleterious effects of glucocorticoids into beneficial estrogenic effects. A short immobilization stress regimen was sufficient to impair non-spatial memory. In contrast, viral vector-mediated overexpression of ER/GR in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus protected against stress-induced impairments of non-spatial memory. These data add to the growing evidence that increasing estrogenic signaling can protect against the impairing effects of stress on non-spatial memory.
Ferguson
Deveroux
D
Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5020, USA. Devero89@stanford.edu
Lin
Sophia
S
Sapolsky
Robert
R
D000818:Animals; D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins