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Steroid effects on neuronal activity: when is the genome involved?
B S McEwen1, H Coirini, M Schumacher
1Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021.
Ciba Foundation Symposium
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Steroid hormones rapidly alter brain function through non-genomic pathways, influencing neurochemistry and behavior. These rapid effects complement slower genomic actions, highlighting complex steroid hormone signaling in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Molecular Neuroscience
- Neuropharmacology
Background:
- Steroids are recognized for enzymic facilitation and genomic activation.
- The brain is a target for steroid hormones, influencing structure, neurochemistry, and behavior.
- Rapid, non-genomic effects of steroids on brain bioelectric activity are observed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms of steroid hormone action in the brain.
- To differentiate between genomic and non-genomic steroid effects based on timing.
- To investigate the interplay between estrogen and progesterone signaling.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of time course for steroid-induced effects.
- Examination of genomic actions like receptor alteration and dendritic spine formation.
- Investigation of rapid progesterone effects on estrogen-induced signaling.
Main Results:
- Extremely rapid effects (< minutes) are non-genomic; delayed effects (minutes to hours) can be genomic.
- Estrogen induces delayed genomic effects on oxytocin and GABAA receptors.
- Progesterone exhibits rapid, non-genomic effects, modulating estrogen-induced receptor changes.
Conclusions:
- Steroid hormones exert both rapid non-genomic and delayed genomic effects in the brain.
- Progesterone rapidly influences estrogen-mediated genomic effects.
- Progesterone metabolites may interact with GABAA-benzodiazepine receptors.