Sex hormones affect neurotransmitters and shape the adult female brain during hormonal transition periods.
Sex hormones have been implicated in neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, dendritic branching, myelination and other important mechanisms of neural plasticity. Here we review the evidence from animal experiments and human studies reporting interactions between sex hormones and the dominant neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, GABA and glutamate. We provide an overview of accumulating data during physiological and pathological conditions and discuss currently conceptualized theories on how sex hormones potentially trigger neuroplasticity changes through these four neurochemical systems. Many brain regions have been demonstrated to express high densities for estrogen- and progesterone receptors, such as the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the hippocampus. As the hippocampus is of particular relevance in the context of mediating structural plasticity in the adult brain, we put particular emphasis on what evidence could be gathered thus far that links differences in behavior, neurochemical patterns and hippocampal structure to a changing hormonal environment. Finally, we discuss how physiologically occurring hormonal transition periods in humans can be used to model how changes in sex hormones influence functional connectivity, neurotransmission and brain structure in vivo.
Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany.
Claudia
C
Barth
Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany ; Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany ; Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany ; Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany ; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Mind and Brain Institute Berlin, Germany.
Arno
A
Villringer
Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Leipzig, Germany ; Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig Leipzig, Germany.
Julia
J
Sacher
estrogens; hormonal transition periods; neurotransmitters; plasticity; progesterone