Hippocampal learning, memory, and neurogenesis: Effects of sex and estrogens across the lifespan in adults

This article is part of a Special Issue “Estradiol and Cognition”. There are sex differences in hippocampus-dependent cognition and neurogenesis suggesting that sex hormones are involved. Estrogens modulate certain forms of spatial and contextual memory and neurogenesis in the adult female rodent, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hormones and behavior 2015-08, Vol.74, p.37-52
Main Authors: Duarte-Guterman, Paula, Yagi, Shunya, Chow, Carmen, Galea, Liisa A.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult neurogenesis
Aging
Aging - drug effects
Aging - physiology
Animal memory
Animals
Cognition
Cognition - drug effects
Cognition - physiology
Dentate gyrus
Estradiol - pharmacology
Estrogen receptor
Estrogens
Estrogens - pharmacology
Female
Gender
Hippocampus
Hippocampus - drug effects
Hippocampus - growth & development
Learning
Male
Memory - drug effects
Memory - physiology
Neurogenesis
Neurogenesis - drug effects
Neurogenesis - physiology
Pregnancy
Reproductive experience
Rodentia
Rodents
Sex Characteristics
Sex differences
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Summary:This article is part of a Special Issue “Estradiol and Cognition”. There are sex differences in hippocampus-dependent cognition and neurogenesis suggesting that sex hormones are involved. Estrogens modulate certain forms of spatial and contextual memory and neurogenesis in the adult female rodent, and to a lesser extent male, hippocampus. This review focuses on the effects of sex and estrogens on hippocampal learning, memory, and neurogenesis in the young and aged adult rodent. We discuss how factors such as the type of estrogen, duration and dose of treatment, timing of treatment, and type of memory influence the effects of estrogens on cognition and neurogenesis. We also address how reproductive experience (pregnancy and mothering) and aging interact with estrogens to modulate hippocampal cognition and neurogenesis in females. Given the evidence that adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays a role in long-term spatial memory and pattern separation, we also discuss the functional implications of regulating neurogenesis in the hippocampus. •There are sex differences in hippocampal learning, memory, and neurogenesis.•Estrogens modulate spatial and contextual memory in adult female rodents.•Estrogens modulate cell proliferation and survival in the dentate gyrus of adult females.•Reproductive experience and aging interact with estrogens to modulate cognition and neurogenesis.
ISSN:0018-506X
1095-6867
DOI:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.05.024