Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
06:18
An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
12.2K
Postmortem tissue biomarkers of menopausal transition
Maria Tickerhoof1, Heining Cham2, Anaya Ger1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|July 9, 2024
Summary
Researchers identified key biomarkers to determine menopausal status in postmortem tissues. This breakthrough enables studying brain changes and neuropsychiatric risks during women's menopausal transition (MT).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Pathology
Background:
- The menopausal transition (MT) increases the risk of neurological and mental disorders.
- Brain imaging shows metabolic and structural changes during MT, but cellular/molecular studies of the postmortem brain are limited.
- Ovarian hormone deficits are implicated, yet direct study of brain changes during MT is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify reliable biomarkers for determining menopausal status in postmortem human tissues.
- To enable cellular and molecular investigations of the brain during the menopausal transition.
- To facilitate a precision medicine approach for women's mental health.
Main Methods:
- Explored 39 candidate biomarkers across blood, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland.
- Analyzed samples from 42 pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal subjects.
- Developed composite measures for postmortem identification of menopausal status.
Main Results:
- Identified 13 significant and 7 strongest menopausal biomarkers.
- Created multi-tissue and tissue-specific composite measures.
- Enabled accurate postmortem identification of menopausal status, including the perimenopausal group (45-55 years).
Conclusions:
- Established a method to determine postmortem menopausal status using biomarkers.
- This research opens avenues for studying the molecular basis of neuropsychiatric risks during MT.
- Facilitates hormone status-informed precision medicine for women's mental health.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Menopause
153
Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...
153
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
74
Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
74
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
134
Cardiac biomarkers are enzymes, proteins, and hormones released into the blood when cardiac cells are injured. They are powerful tools for triaging.
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
134
01:22Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle
338
The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH...
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH...
338