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Sex hormones and brain aging
Sergio Veiga1, Roberto C Melcangi, Lydia L Doncarlos
1Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Avenida Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain.
Experimental Gerontology
|December 8, 2004
Summary
Sex steroids like progesterone and estradiol protect neurons and myelin. Enhancing local steroid production in the brain may offer a new strategy for neuroprotection in aging and neurodegeneration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Sex steroids (progesterone, testosterone, estradiol) have neuroprotective effects.
- Aging leads to decreased sex steroid levels, potentially impairing neural function.
- Hormone replacement therapy in humans shows inconclusive results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore local steroidogenesis in neural tissues as an alternative to hormone replacement.
- To investigate the role of steroidogenic enzymes and proteins in brain aging and neurodegeneration.
- To identify potential pharmacological targets for neuroprotection in the aged brain.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on sex steroids, neuroprotection, and aging.
- Analysis of studies on enzymes and proteins involved in steroid synthesis and metabolism in the nervous system.
- Examination of evidence for altered steroidogenesis in aging and injured brains.
Main Results:
- Progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol demonstrate neuroprotective effects in animal models.
- Progesterone derivatives protect peripheral nerve myelin in aging rats.
- Proteins like steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) are upregulated in injured and aging nervous systems.
- Local estradiol synthesis via aromatase is neuroprotective.
Conclusions:
- Local steroidogenesis in neural tissues is a potential therapeutic avenue.
- StAR, PBR, and aromatase are promising targets for promoting neuroprotection in the aged brain.
- Modulating brain steroidogenesis may combat neurodegeneration and aging-related neural decline.