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Stress and hippocampal plasticity.

B S McEwen1

  • 1Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA. mcewen@rockvax.rockefeller.edu

Annual Review of Neuroscience
|April 15, 1999
PubMed
Summary

The hippocampus, a brain region vulnerable to stress, experiences structural changes affecting memory. Understanding reversible atrophy versus permanent cell loss is key for therapeutic strategies.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The hippocampus is highly plastic and sensitive to hormonal influences, including stress hormones.
  • Hormones like gonadal, thyroid, and adrenal hormones modulate synaptic plasticity and dentate gyrus volume.
  • Stress impacts hippocampal structural plasticity, affecting dendritic structure and neurogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of stress on hippocampal structural plasticity.
  • To explore the roles of hormones, excitatory amino acids, and NMDA receptors in these processes.
  • To differentiate between reversible atrophy and permanent cell loss in the hippocampus for therapeutic implications.

Main Methods:

  • The study focuses on the structural changes in the CA3 region and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.
  • It examines the involvement of glucocorticoids, excitatory amino acids, and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors.
  • The research considers neuronal death induced by seizures and ischemia.

Main Results:

  • Repeated stress leads to dendritic atrophy in the CA3 region.
  • Both acute and chronic stress suppress neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus.
  • Glucocorticoids, excitatory amino acids, and NMDA receptors are implicated in stress-induced plasticity and neuronal death.

Conclusions:

  • Stress significantly alters hippocampal structure, impacting memory functions.
  • Distinguishing between reversible atrophy and permanent cell loss is crucial for developing effective treatments.
  • Hippocampal plasticity changes are relevant to memory deficits observed in various neurological disorders.

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