Neural-derived estradiol regulates brain plasticity

•Estradiol is synthesized by neural cells.•Brain estradiol synthesis is aromatase dependent.•Neural-derived estradiol regulates neurogenesis and neuritogenesis.•Neural-derived estradiol regulates synaptic function and plasticity. In addition to be an ovarian hormone, estradiol is a neurosteroid synt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical neuroanatomy 2018-04, Vol.89, p.53-59
Main Authors: Azcoitia, Iñigo, Arevalo, Maria Angeles, Garcia-Segura, Luis M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Aromatase
Brain - physiology
Dendritic spines
Estradiol
Estradiol - metabolism
Humans
Long-term depression
Long-term potentiation
Neurogenesis - physiology
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Neurons - metabolism
Songbirds
Synaptic plasticity
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Summary:•Estradiol is synthesized by neural cells.•Brain estradiol synthesis is aromatase dependent.•Neural-derived estradiol regulates neurogenesis and neuritogenesis.•Neural-derived estradiol regulates synaptic function and plasticity. In addition to be an ovarian hormone, estradiol is a neurosteroid synthesized by neural cells. The brain is a steroidogenic tissue that metabolizes testosterone to estradiol. The last step in the synthesis of estradiol is catalyzed by the enzyme aromatase, which is widely expressed in the brain of male and female animals and humans. Studies that have manipulated the expression or the activity of aromatase have revealed that brain-derived estradiol acts as a neuromodulator and regulates different forms of brain plasticity in male and female animals. The regulation of neuroplastic events by brain-derived estradiol probably participates in the effects of brain aromatase on behavior and cognition.
ISSN:0891-0618
1873-6300
DOI:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2017.04.004