title: Sex Hormones Regulate Cytoskeletal Proteins Involved in Brain Plasticity.
abstract: In the brain of female mammals, including humans, a number of physiological and behavioral changes occur as a result of sex hormone exposure. Estradiol and progesterone regulate several brain functions, including learning and memory. Sex hormones contribute to shape the central nervous system by modulating the formation and turnover of the interconnections between neurons as well as controlling the function of glial cells. The dynamics of neuron and glial cells morphology depends on the cytoskeleton and its associated proteins. Cytoskeletal proteins are necessary to form neuronal dendrites and dendritic spines, as well as to regulate the diverse functions in astrocytes. The expression pattern of proteins, such as actin, microtubule-associated protein 2, Tau, and glial fibrillary acidic protein, changes in a tissue-specific manner in the brain, particularly when variations in sex hormone levels occur during the estrous or menstrual cycles or pregnancy. Here, we review the changes in structure and organization of neurons and glial cells that require the participation of cytoskeletal proteins whose expression and activity are regulated by estradiol and progesterone.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Mexico City , Mexico.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hansberg-Pastor
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Mexico City , Mexico.
authors.forename: Aliesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Arenas
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Mexico City , Mexico.
authors.forename: Ana Gabriela
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Piña-Medina
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Mexico City , Mexico.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Camacho-Arroyo
keywords: brain; estradiol; glial cells; plasticity; progesterone; sex hormones