title: The effects of hormones and physical exercise on hippocampal structural plasticity.
abstract: The hippocampus plays an integral role in certain aspects of cognition. Hippocampal structural plasticity and in particular adult hippocampal neurogenesis can be influenced by several intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Here we review how hormones (i.e., intrinsic modulators) and physical exercise (i.e., an extrinsic modulator) can differentially modulate hippocampal plasticity in general and adult hippocampal neurogenesis in particular. Specifically, we provide an overview of the effects of sex hormones, stress hormones, and metabolic hormones on hippocampal structural plasticity and adult hippocampal neurogenesis. In addition, we also discuss how physical exercise modulates these forms of hippocampal plasticity, giving particular emphasis on how this modulation can be affected by variables such as exercise regime, duration, and intensity. Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the modulation of hippocampal structural plasticity by intrinsic and extrinsic factors will impact the design of new therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring hippocampal plasticity following brain injury or neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Triviño-Paredes
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada; Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Victoria, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: Anna R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada; Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Victoria, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gil-Mohapel
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada; Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Victoria, B.C., Canada; Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Electronic address: brain64@uvic.ca.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Christie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones
keywords: Adult neurogenesis; Hippocampus; Hormones; Physical exercise; Stress; Structural plasticity