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Related Experiment Videos

Effects of adverse experiences for brain structure and function.

B S McEwen1

  • 1Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA.

Biological Psychiatry
|November 7, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Repeated stress causes reversible structural changes in the hippocampus, affecting memory. Understanding this brain plasticity is key for treating psychiatric disorders and aging-related cognitive decline.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurobiology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • The adult brain exhibits significant structural plasticity, particularly the hippocampus.
  • Stress and stress hormones impact hippocampal structure, affecting neuronal morphology and neurogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the mechanisms underlying stress-induced hippocampal structural remodeling.
  • To investigate the role of hippocampal dysfunction in psychiatric disorders and aging.
  • To differentiate between reversible remodeling and permanent cell loss for therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of studies on the hippocampus, stress, and hormones.
  • Analysis of structural changes in CA3 dendrites and dentate gyrus neurogenesis.
  • Examination of the involvement of glucocorticoids, excitatory amino acids (EAA), and NMDA receptors.

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  • Consideration of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in humans.

    • Main Results:

    • Repeated stress leads to hippocampal dendritic shortening and suppressed neurogenesis.
    • These changes are mediated by glucocorticoids, EAA, NMDA receptors, serotonin, and GABA-benzodiazepine systems.
    • Similar mechanisms may underlie stress-induced hippocampal damage and neuronal death from seizures/ischemia.
    • Hippocampal atrophy is observed in psychiatric disorders and aging, correlating with memory deficits.

    Conclusions:

    • Hippocampal structural plasticity is a key factor in stress response and cognitive function.
    • Understanding reversible remodeling versus cell loss is crucial for developing effective treatments.
    • Hippocampal dysfunction may contribute to psychiatric illness symptoms and age-related memory decline.
    • Other brain regions may also be affected by these stress-related processes.