title: Gonadal hormone modulation of intracellular calcium as a mechanism of neuroprotection.
abstract: Hormones have wide-ranging effects throughout the nervous system, including the ability interact with and modulate many aspects of intracellular calcium regulation and calcium signaling. Indeed, these interactions specifically may help to explain the often opposing or paradoxical effects of hormones, such as their ability to both promote and prevent neuronal cell death during development, as well as reduce or exacerbate damage following an insult or injury in adulthood. Here, we review the basic mechanisms underlying intracellular calcium regulation-perhaps the most dynamic and flexible of all signaling molecules-and discuss how gonadal hormones might manipulate these mechanisms to coordinate diverse cellular responses and achieve disparate outcomes. Additional future research that specifically addresses questions of sex and hormone effects on calcium signaling at different ages will be critical to understanding hormone-mediated neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Program in Developmental and Brain Sciences and Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, United States. Electronic address: susan.zup@umb.edu.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zup
authors.affiliation: Program in Developmental and Brain Sciences and Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, United States.
authors.forename: Amanda M K
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Madden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000066829:Neuroprotection / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D042341:Gonadal Hormones
keywords: Calcium; Development; Estradiol; Sex differences; Testosterone