Aging and substitutive hormonal therapy influence in regional and subcellular distribution of ER alpha in female rat brain

作者：Navarro Ana; del Valle Eva; Ordonez Cristina; Martinez Eva; Perez Cristina; Alonso Ana; Gonzalez Celestino; Tolivia Jorge^*

来源：Age, 2013, 35(3): 821-837.

DOI：10.1007/s11357-012-9415-9

• Hormonal therapy
• Aging
• Estrogen receptor alpha
• Brain
• Estradiol
• Telencephalon
• Diencephalon

Estrogens are not only critical for sexual differentiation it is well-known for the role of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) in the adult brain modulating memory, learning, mood and acts as a neuroprotector. E2 exerts its actions through two classical receptors: estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) and estrogen receptor beta (ER beta). The distribution of both receptors changes from one brain area to another, E2 being able to modulate their expression. Among the classical features of aging in humans, we find cognitive impairment, dementia, memory loss, etc. As estrogen levels change with age, especially in females, it is important to know the effects of low E2 levels on ER alpha distribution; results from previous studies are controversial regarding this issue. In the present work, we have studied the effects of long-term E2 depletion as well as the ones of E2 treatment on ER alpha brain distribution of ovariectomized rats along aging in the diencephalon and in the telencephalon. We have found that ovariectomy causes downregulation and affects subcellular localization of ER alpha expression during aging, meanwhile prolonged estrogen treatment produces upregulation and overexpression of the receptor levels. Our results support the idea of the region-specific neuroprotection mechanisms mediated by estradiol.

• 出版日期2013-6