Abstract
Background
Estradiol affects neuronal plasticity, mood, and cognition. We examined the effects
of the estrous cycle, acute and chronic estradiol treatments on BDNF mRNA expression
in the hippocampus and cortex of female rats. The roles of 5-HT2A receptors and of
stress on the BDNF mRNA regulation were also explored.
Methods
BDNF mRNA levels were measured using in situ hybridization at proestrus and estrus,
and following acute and chronic estradiol treatment of acutely and chronically ovariectomized
(OVX) female rats. Some rats were pretreated with 5-HT2A agonist and antagonist, and
another group was subjected to two-hour immobilization stress.
Results
BDNF mRNA levels in the dentate gyrus and the medial prefrontal cortex were decreased
during estrus, when estradiol levels are highest. Acute estradiol treatment decreased
hippocampal BDNF mRNA in acutely OVX rats, but neither acute nor chronic estradiol
had effect in chronically OVX rats. Estradiol pretreatment reduced the 5-HT2A receptor-mediated
cortical upregulation in BDNF mRNA and did not effect the stress-induced down-regulation
of BDNF mRNA in the dentate gyrus.
Conclusions
The duration of the estradiol treatment and the duration of the ovarian hormone deprivation
are important factors in the regulation of BDNF synthesis and possibly in the functional
outcome of estrogen treatment.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 17,
2003
Received in revised form:
January 9,
2003
Received:
September 17,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
