NEURO-GLIA CROSS-TALK IN THE NEUROPROTECTIVE ACTIONS OF ESTRADIOL

GARCIA-SEGURA LM; SANTOS-GALINDO M; BELLINI MJ; AZCOITIA I; AREVALO MA

TOURS, FRANCIA

Simposio; Plasticity of neuroendocrine systems, Satellite symposia of the 7th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology; 2010

Oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia are directly or indirectly affected by estradiol and by different estrogenic compounds, such as selective estrogen receptor modulators. Acting on glial cells, estrogens regulate remyelination, edema formation, extracellular glutamate levels, glial scar formation and the expression and release of proinflammatory molecules after brain injury. In addition, estradiol induces the expression and release of growth factors by astrocytes that promote neuronal survival. Furthermore, under neurodegenerative conditions, astrocytes produce estradiol as an endogenous neuroprotective mechanism. Therefore, glial cells are important players in the neuroprotective and reparative mechanisms of estradiol and estrogenic compounds.