Synaptic remodeling in the rat arcuate nucleus during the estrous cycle

Olmos, Gabriel; Naftolin, Frederick; Pérez, Julio; Tranque, Pedro; García‐Segura, Luis M.

doi:10.1016/0306-4522(89)90288-1

Cited by 196 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…To their surprise, the number varied with estrus cycle stage, peaking during proestrus. Although synaptogenesis had been observed earlier in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (Olmos et al, 1989), which is a structure important for reproductive behavior, it could be explained as a phenomenon correlated with the reproductive cycle. The hippocampal data provoked surprise because they came from a structure in which memories were assumed to be consolidated and stored.…”

Section: Estrogensmentioning

confidence: 97%

Can endocrine disruptors influence neuroplasticity in the aging brain?

Weiss

2007

NeuroToxicology

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Only within the last two decades has the adult mammalian brain been recognized for its ability to generate new nerve cells and other neural structures and in essence to rewire itself. Although hippocampal structures have received the greatest scrutiny, other sites, including the cerebral cortex, also display this potential. Such processes remain active in the aging brain, although to a lesser degree. Two of the factors known to induce neurogenesis are environmental enrichment and physical activity. Gonadal hormones, however, also play crucial roles. Androgens and estrogens are both required for the preservation of cognitive function during aging and apparently help counteract the risk of Alzheimer's disease. One overlooked threat to hormonal adequacy that requires close examination is the abundance of environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals that interfere with gonadal function. They come in the form of estrogenic mimics, androgen mimics, anti-estrogens, antiandrogens, and in a variety of other guises. Because our brains are in continuous transition throughout the lifespan, responding both to environmental circumstances and to changing levels of gonadal steroids, endocrine-disrupting chemicals possess the potential to impair neurogenesis, and represent a hazard for the preservation of cognitive function during the later stages of the life cycle.

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Section: Estrogensmentioning

confidence: 97%

Can endocrine disruptors influence neuroplasticity in the aging brain?

Weiss

2007

NeuroToxicology

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“…Tanycytes are specialized bipolar glial cells, located in the arcuate nucleus and the median eminence, that play a key role in neuroendocrine regulation. Tanycytes contribute to the regulation of GnRH release by extension and retraction of end-foot processes that are interposed between GnRH synaptic terminals and the portal vasculature of the median eminence (Kobayashi et al 1972, Kozlowski & Coates 1985, Ugrumov et al 1985, 1989, Silverman et al 1991, King & Letourneau 1994, Prevot et al 1999.…”

Section: The Role Of Glial Cells In the Maturation Of Neuronal Circuimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, the role of glial cells in maturation of the neuronal circuits regulating GnRH neurons has been studied in detail in the arcuate nucleus of the rat hypothalamus. In this nucleus, a parallel maturation of neuronal membranes, glial cells, and synaptic inputs during the juvenile and prepubertal maturation period (Matsumoto & Arai 1976, 1977, Perez et al 1990, Chowen et al 1995, Garcia-Segura et al 1995b) generates a sexually dimorphic organization of synapses and glia such that, after puberty, females, but not males, respond to the neuroplastic actions of E 2 (Olmos et al 1989, Garcia-Segura et al 1994, Horvath et al 1997, Csakvari et al 2007). These sex differences are induced by the perinatal secretion of testosterone in male rats.…”

Section: The Role Of Glial Cells In the Maturation Of Neuronal Circuimentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of glia in the hypothalamus: implications for gonadal steroid feedback and reproductive neuroendocrine output

Garcia-Segura

Lorenz²,

DonCarlos³

2008

Reproduction

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Neuron-to-glia, glia-to-neuron, and glia-to-glia communication are implicated in the modulation of neuronal activity and synaptic transmission relevant to reproduction. Glial cells play an important role in neuroendocrine regulation and participate in the sexual differentiation of neuronal connectivity of brain regions involved in the control of reproductive neuroendocrine output. During puberty, modifications in the morphology and chemistry of astrocytes and tanycytes in the hypothalamus and median eminence influence the maturation of the neuronal circuits controlling the secretion of GnRH. During adult reproductive life, the glial cells participate in the transient remodeling of neuronal connectivity in the preoptic area, the arcuate nucleus, the median eminence, and other brain regions involved in the control of reproduction. Gonadal hormones regulate glial plasticity by direct and indirect effects and regulate various other endocrine signals, local soluble factors and adhesion molecules that also affect glial function and glia-to-neuron communication. The glial cells, therefore, are central to the coordination of endocrine and local inputs that bring about neural plasticity and adapt reproductive capacity to homeostatic signals.

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“…The variations of female sex hormones over the menstrual cycle in mammals are connected to neural changes, including structural as well as functional transformations in different brain regions (e.g., Czoty et al, 2009;Desmond and Levy, 1997;Olmos et al, 1989;Qiu et al, 2013;Woolley, 1998;Woolley and McEwen, 1993). Estrogen and progesterone, the two main ovarian steroids, have received most attention in this research field.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hippocampal volume and functional connectivity changes during the female menstrual cycle

et al. 2015

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Hippocampal volume has been shown to be sensitive to variations in estrogen and progesterone levels across rodents' estrous cycle. However, little is known about the covariation of hormone levels and brain structure in the course of the human menstrual cycle. Here, we examine this covariation with a multi-method approach that includes several brain imaging methods and hormonal assessments. We acquired structural and functional scans from 21 naturally cycling women on four time points during their cycles (early follicular phase, late follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase). Hormone blood concentrations and cognitive performance in different domains were assessed on each of the measurement occasions. Structural MRI images were processed by means of whole-brain voxel-based morphometry and FreeSurfer. With either method, bilateral increases in hippocampal volume were found in the late follicular phase relative to the early follicular phase. The gray matter probability in regions of hippocampal volume increase was associated with lower mean diffusivity in the same region. In addition, we observed higher functional connectivity between the hippocampi and the bilateral superior parietal lobe in the late follicular phase. We did not find any reliable cycle-related performance variations on the cognitive tasks. The present results show that hormonal fluctuations covary with hippocampal structure and function in the course of the human menstrual cycle.

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Synaptic remodeling in the rat arcuate nucleus during the estrous cycle

Cited by 196 publications

References 40 publications

Can endocrine disruptors influence neuroplasticity in the aging brain?

Can endocrine disruptors influence neuroplasticity in the aging brain?

The role of glia in the hypothalamus: implications for gonadal steroid feedback and reproductive neuroendocrine output

Hippocampal volume and functional connectivity changes during the female menstrual cycle

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