Estradiol Increases Pre- and Post-Synaptic Proteins in the CA1 Region of the Hippocampus in Female Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Janet M. Choi, Russell D. Romeo, Wayne G. Brake, Cynthia L. Bethea, Zev Rosenwaks, Bruce S. McEwen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    107 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The role of estrogen (E) in promoting learning and memory in females has been well studied in both rodent and primate models. In female rats, E increases dendritic spine number, synaptogenesis, and synaptic proteins in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that mediates learning and memory. In the present study, we used radioimmunocytochemistry to examine whether E and progesterone were capable of modulating the levels of pre- and postsynaptic proteins in the CA1 region of the female nonhuman primate hippocampus. It was found that E increased syntaxin, synaptophysin (presynaptic), and spinophilin (postsynaptic) levels in the stratum oriens and radiatum of the CA1 region, whereas combined E and progesterone treatment decreased these synaptic proteins to the levels found in untreated, spayed controls. Furthermore, progesterone treatment alone significantly increased synaptophysin levels in the stratum oriens and radiatum of the CA1 region. The levels of these synaptic proteins were unaltered by hormone treatment in the dentate gyrus, suggesting that this steroid-induced plasticity is hippocampal region specific. As these synaptic proteins are important components of the synaptic apparatus and reliable markers of synaptogenesis, it appears that E-induced increases in cognitive function of higher order mammals may be mediated in part by the effect of E on hippocampal synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)4734-4738
    Number of pages5
    JournalEndocrinology
    Volume144
    Issue number11
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Nov 2003

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Endocrinology

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