Abstract
Studies of the hippocampus as a target of stress and stress hormones have revealed
a considerable degree of structural plasticity in the adult brain. Repeated stress
causes shortening and debranching of dendrites in the CA3 region of the hippocampus
and suppresses neurogenesis of dentate gyrus granule neurons. Both forms of structural
remodeling of the hippocampus appear to be reversible and are mediated by glucocorticoid
hormones working in concert with excitatory amino acids (EAA) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, along with transmitters such as serotonin and the GABA-benzodiazepine
system. Glucocorticoids, EAA, and NMDA receptors are also involved in neuronal damage
and death that is caused in pyramidal neurons by seizures and by ischemia. A similar
mechanism may be involved in hippocampal damage caused by severe and prolonged psychosocial
stress. Studies using magnetic resonance imaging have shown that there is a selective
atrophy of the human hippocampus in a number of psychiatric disorders, as well as
during aging in some individuals, accompanied by deficits in declarative, spatial,
and contextual memory performance. It is therefore important to appreciate how hippocampal
dysfunction may play a role in the symptoms of the psychiatric illness and, from a
therapeutic standpoint, to distinguish between a permanent loss of cells and a reversible
remodeling to develop treatment strategies to prevent or reverse deficits. Remodeling
of the hippocampus may be only the tip of the iceberg; other brain regions may also
be affected.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 19,
2000
Received in revised form:
June 14,
2000
Received:
March 17,
2000
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
