title: Molecular signature of rapid estrogen regulation of synaptic connectivity and cognition.
abstract: There is now a growing appreciation that estrogens are capable of rapidly activating a number of signaling cascades within the central nervous system. In addition, there are an increasing number of studies reporting that 17β-estradiol, the major biologically active estrogen, can modulate cognition within a rapid time frame. Here we review recent studies that have begun to uncover the molecular and cellular framework which contributes to estrogens ability to rapidly modulate cognition. We first describe the mechanisms by which estrogen receptors (ERs) can couple to intracellular signaling cascades, either directly, or via the transactivation of other receptors. Subsequently, we review the evidence that estrogen can rapidly modulate both neuronal function and structure in the hippocampus and the cortex. Finally, we will discuss how estrogens may influence cognitive function through the modulation of neuronal structure, and the implications this may have on the treatment of a range of brain disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The James Black Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sellers
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The James Black Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raval
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The James Black Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK. Electronic address: deepak.srivastava@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Deepak P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Srivastava
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen
keywords: 17β-Estradiol; AMPA receptor; Cortex; Dendritic spine; Estrogen receptor α; Estrogen receptor β; GPER1 (G-protein estrogen receptor); GPR30; Hippocampus; NMDA receptor