 |
Previous Article | Next Article 
The Journal of Neuroscience, May 1, 1999, 19(9):3316-3325
Granule Cells in Aging Rats Are Sexually Dimorphic in Their
Response to Estradiol
Phillippa
Miranda1, 2,
Christina L.
Williams3, and
Gillian
Einstein1, 2
1 Department of Neurobiology and 2 Joseph
and Kathleen Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Duke
University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, 27710 and
3 Department of Psychology: Experimental, Duke
University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
Normal aging comprises cognitive decline, including deterioration
of memory. It has been suggested that this decline in memory is
sexually dimorphic because of the cessation in gonadal steroid secretion that occurs during reproductive aging in female, but not
male, mammals. We wondered whether neurons in brain regions associated
with learning and memory underwent morphological changes that were
dimorphic as well and whether cessation of the secretion of gonadal
steroids influenced these morphological changes. To explore these
questions, we deprived and restored estrogens to young and old
gonadectomized females and males and studied the morphology of dentate
granule cells by intracellular dye filling in a lightly fixed slice
preparation. We found the following: (1) Aged female dentate granule
cells deprived of gonadal steroids long-term have a paucity of
dendritic spines compared with young females deprived short-term;
however, aged male dentate granule cells deprived of gonadal steroids
long-term have no decrease in dendritic spines compared with young
males deprived short-term. (2) Aged female dentate granule cells with
long-term estrogen replacement at either high or low levels still had a
decline in spine density. (3) Aged female dentate granule cells with
short-term estradiol replacement had spine density increased to levels
normally observed in young adults, whereas aged males with short-term
estradiol replacement had decreased spine density. These data suggest
that the response of rat dentate granule cells to aging and estradiol is sexually dimorphic and that, in females, the responsiveness of
granule cells depends on the temporal pattern of estradiol replacement.
Key words:
estrogens; aging; Alzheimer's disease; memory; dentate
granule cells; hormone replacement therapy; dendritic spines; hippocampus; neuronal morphology
Copyright © 1999 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/99/1993316-10$05.00/0
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. J Paris and C. A Frye
Estrous cycle, pregnancy, and parity enhance performance of rats in object recognition or object placement tasks
Reproduction,
July 1, 2008;
136(1):
105 - 115.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Schumacher, R. Guennoun, A. Ghoumari, C. Massaad, F. Robert, M. El-Etr, Y. Akwa, K. Rajkowski, and E.-E. Baulieu
Novel Perspectives for Progesterone in Hormone Replacement Therapy, with Special Reference to the Nervous System
Endocr. Rev.,
June 1, 2007;
28(4):
387 - 439.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Kraft, M. M. Escobar, M. L. Narro, J. L. Kurtis, A. Efrat, K. Barnard, and L. L. Restifo
Phenotypes of Drosophila Brain Neurons in Primary Culture Reveal a Role for Fascin in Neurite Shape and Trajectory.
J. Neurosci.,
August 23, 2006;
26(34):
8734 - 8747.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. M. Daniel, J. L. Hulst, and J. L. Berbling
Estradiol Replacement Enhances Working Memory in Middle-Aged Rats When Initiated Immediately after Ovariectomy But Not after a Long-Term Period of Ovarian Hormone Deprivation
Endocrinology,
January 1, 2006;
147(1):
607 - 614.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. G. Smith, L. Betancourt, and Y. Sun
Molecular Endocrinology and Physiology of the Aging Central Nervous System
Endocr. Rev.,
April 1, 2005;
26(2):
203 - 250.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Adams and J. H. Morrison
Estrogen and the Aging Hippocampal Synapse
Cereb Cortex,
December 1, 2003;
13(12):
1271 - 1275.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Adams, S. E. Fink, R. A. Shah, W. G. M. Janssen, S. Hayashi, T. A. Milner, B. S. McEwen, and J. H. Morrison
Estrogen and Aging Affect the Subcellular Distribution of Estrogen Receptor-alpha in the Hippocampus of Female Rats
J. Neurosci.,
May 1, 2002;
22(9):
3608 - 3614.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. F. Rissman, A. L. Heck, J. E. Leonard, M. A. Shupnik, and J.-A. Gustafsson
Disruption of estrogen receptor beta gene impairs spatial learning in female mice
PNAS,
March 19, 2002;
99(6):
3996 - 4001.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Adams, R. A. Shah, W. G. M. Janssen, and J. H. Morrison
Different modes of hippocampal plasticity in response to estrogen in young and aged female rats
PNAS,
June 20, 2001;
(2001)
141215898.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. D. Brinton
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Estrogen Regulation of Memory Function and Neuroprotection Against Alzheimer's Disease: Recent Insights and Remaining Challenges
Learn. Mem.,
May 1, 2001;
8(3):
121 - 133.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. A. Shaywitz and S. E. Shaywitz
Estrogen and Alzheimer Disease: Plausible Theory, Negative Clinical Trial
JAMA,
February 23, 2000;
283(8):
1055 - 1056.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. J. Alkayed, S. J. Murphy, R. J. Traystman, P. D. Hurn, and V. M. Miller
Neuroprotective Effects of Female Gonadal Steroids in Reproductively Senescent Female Rats Editorial Comment
Stroke,
January 1, 2000;
31(1):
161 - 168.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. M. Adams, R. A. Shah, W. G. M. Janssen, and J. H. Morrison
Different modes of hippocampal plasticity in response to estrogen in young and aged female rats
PNAS,
July 3, 2001;
98(14):
8071 - 8076.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|

|