Estrogens and progestogens: synthesis and actions in the brain

CAMBIASSO, M.J.; HOLSCHBACH, A.; ROSSETTI, M.F.; CABRERA, R.

JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY.

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016

0953-8194

When steroids, such as pregnenolone,progesterone and estrogen, are synthesized de novo in neural tissues, they aremore specifically referred to as neurosteroids. These neurosteroids bindspecific receptors to promote essential brain functions. Pregnenolone supportscognition and protects mouse hippocampal cells against glutamate and amyloidpeptide-induced cell death. Progesterone promotes myelination, spinogenesis, synaptogenesis, neuronal survival and dendriticgrowth. Allopregnanolone increases hippocampal neurogenesis, neuronal survivaland cognitive functions. Estrogens, such as estradiol, regulate synaptic plasticity, reproductivebehavior, aggressive behavior and learning. In addition, neurosteroids are neuroprotective in animal models of Alzheimerdisease, Parkinson disease, brain injury, and aging. Using in situ hybridization and/or immunohistochemistry, steroidogenicenzymes, includingcytochromeP450 side-chain cleavage, 3â-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Ä5-Ä4isomerase, cytochrome P450arom, steroid 5á-reductaseand 3á-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, have been detectedin numerous brain regions, includinghippocampus, hypothalamusand cerebral cortex. In this article, we summarize some of the studies related to synthesis andfunction of estrogens and progestagens in the central nervous system.