Allopregnanolone reversion of estrogen and progesterone memory impairment: interplay with serotonin release

C. ESCUDERO; F. GIULIANI; M. MULLE BERNEDO; ROBERTO YUNES1; R. CABRERA

JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION. GENERAL SECTION.

SPRINGER WIEN

Lugar: Viena; Año: 2019

0300-9564

Previously, we found out that in ovariectomized female rats, estrogen and progesterone produce a memory deficit which isreverted by the intrahippocampal administration of allopregnanolone. Here, we study the possible interplay between allopregnanolone and hippocampal serotonergic activity. Ovariectomized rats injected subcutaneously with estrogen and progesteronewere subsequently injected in the dorsal hippocampus with the vehicle, allopregnanolone alone or allopregnanolone shortly after8OH-DPAT, a predominantly 5HT1A-7 receptor agonist. Then, the subjects were sequentially tested in: (1) an inhibitory avoidance task and (2) K+-evoked [3H]-serotonin ex vivo release through superfusion experiments. Allopregnanolone increasedthe K+-evoked [3H]-serotonin release compared to control. 8OH-DPAT infusions reversed the effects of allopregnanolone onmemory and K+-evoked [3H]-serotonin release. These results suggest that allopregnanolone memory improvement could bemediated, at least in part, through modulation of the hippocampal serotonergic system reactivity.