Oestrogens and progestagens: synthesis and action in the brain

CAMBIASSO MJ; HOLSCHBACH MA; ROSSETTI MF; CABRERA R

JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY.

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 vol. 28

0953-8194

When steroids, such as pregnenolone, progesterone and estrogen, are synthesized de novo in neural tissues, they are more specifically referred to as neurosteroids. These neurosteroids bind specific receptors to promote essential brain functions. Pregnenolone supports cognition and protects mouse hippocampal cells against glutamate and amyloid peptide-induced cell death. Progesterone promotes myelination, spinogenesis, synaptogenesis, neuronal survival and dendritic growth. Allopregnanolone increases hippocampal neurogenesis, neuronal survival and cognitive functions. Estrogens, such as estradiol, regulate synaptic plasticity, reproductive behavior, aggressive behavior and learning. In addition, neurosteroids are neuroprotective in animal models of Alzheimer´s disease, Parkinson´s disease, brain injury, and aging. Using in situ hybridization and/or immunohistochemistry, steroidogenic enzymes, including cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-Δ4 isomerase, cytochrome P450arom, steroid 5α-reductase and 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, have been detected in numerous brain regions, including the hippocampus, hypothalamus and cerebral cortex. In this article, we summarize some of the studies related to synthesis and function of estrogens and progestagens in the central nervous system.