Synaptic Long-Term Potentiation and Depression in the Rat Medial Vestibular Nuclei Depend on Neural Activation of Estrogenic and Androgenic Signals

    November 2013 in “ PLoS ONE ”
    Mariangela Scarduzio, Roberto Panichi, Vito Enrico Pettorossi, Silvarosa Grassi
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    TLDR Estrogen and androgen signals control synaptic changes in rat brains.
    The study investigated the role of estrogenic and androgenic signals in synaptic plasticity within the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) of male rats. Using whole cell patch clamp recordings, researchers found that long-term depression (LTD) was mediated by locally produced androgens interacting with androgen receptors (ARs), while long-term potentiation (LTP) was mediated by locally synthesized 17β-estradiol (E2) interacting with estrogen receptors (ERs). Blocking ARs with flutamide prevented LTD but did not affect LTP, whereas blocking ERs with ICI 182,780 abolished LTP without influencing LTD. Inhibiting P450-aromatase with letrozole prevented LTP and inverted it into LTD, which was abolished under AR blockade. The study highlighted the distinct roles of testosterone-derived dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in LTD and E2 in LTP, suggesting that different stimulation patterns can selectively activate the synthesis of androgenic or estrogenic neurosteroids, leading to specific synaptic changes.
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