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Motoneuron injury and repair: New perspectives on gonadal steroids as neurotherapeutics

Julie E Tetzlaff1, Christopher B Huppenbauer, Lisa Tanzer

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Loyola University of Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.

Journal of Molecular Neuroscience : MN
|April 25, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Gonadal steroids protect motor neurons from stress and injury. They act as cellular stress correction factors, influencing key proteins like survival of motor neuron protein and neuritin.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Motor neuron (nerve cell) viability is crucial for motor function.
  • Cellular stress can compromise motor neuron survival.
  • Gonadal steroids are hormones with known physiological effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the neuroprotective role of gonadal steroids in motor neuron survival.
  • To examine steroid regulation of specific motor neuron proteins.
  • To present gonadal steroids as cellular stress correction factors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of laboratory's recent work.
  • Discussion of three motoneuron models: developing axotomized hamster facial motoneurons (FMNs), adult axotomized mouse FMNs, and cultured mouse spinal motoneurons.
  • Analysis of survival of motor neuron protein and neuritin regulation.

Main Results:

  • Gonadal steroids demonstrate neuroprotective effects in motoneuron models.
  • Differential regulation of survival of motor neuron protein and neuritin by steroids after axotomy was observed.
  • Steroids function as cellular stress correction factors.

Conclusions:

  • Gonadal steroids are important neuroprotective agents for motor neuron viability.
  • Understanding steroid action has implications for acute neurological injury.
  • Further research into steroid-mediated neuroprotection is warranted.

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