Signaling mechanisms mediating the regulation of synaptic plasticity and memory by estradiol.
This article is part of a Special Issue "Estradiol and Cognition". Estradiol participates in the regulation of the function and plasticity of synaptic circuits in key cognitive brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. The mechanisms elicited by estradiol are mediated by the regulation of transcriptional activity by nuclear estrogen receptors and by intracellular signaling cascades activated by estrogen receptors associated with the plasma membrane. In addition, the mechanisms include the interaction of estradiol with the signaling of other factors involved in the regulation of cognition, such as brain derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor-1 and Wnt. Modifications in these signaling pathways by aging or by a long-lasting ovarian hormone deprivation after menopause may impair the enhancing effects of estradiol on synaptic plasticity and cognition.
Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avenida Doctor Arce 37, E-28002 Madrid, Spain.
Maria-Angeles
MA
Arevalo
Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Universidad Complutense, Calle José Antonio Novais 12, Ciudad Universitaria, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.
Iñigo
I
Azcoitia
Laboratorio de Psicobiología, División de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jal. Mexico.
Ignacio
I
Gonzalez-Burgos
Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avenida Doctor Arce 37, E-28002 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: lmgs@cajal.csic.es.
Luis M
LM
Garcia-Segura
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004958:Estradiol
Dendritic spines; Estrogen receptors; Growth factors; Hippocampus; Memory; Object recognition; Prefrontal cortex; Synaptic plasticity