Neo-Synthesis of Estrogenic or Androgenic Neurosteroids Determine Whether Long-Term Potentiation or Depression Is Induced in Hippocampus of Male Rat

October 2015 in “ Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience ”

Michela Di Mauro, Alessandro Tozzi, Paolo Calabresi, Vito Enrico Pettorossi, Silvarosa Grassi

5α-dihydrotestosterone DHT 17β-estradiol E2 androgenic neurosteroids estrogenic neurosteroids long-term potentiation LTP long-term depression LTD depotentiation hippocampus dihydrotestosterone estradiol

TLDR DHT is needed for long-term depression, while E2 is needed for full long-term potentiation in male rat brains.

The study explored the roles of estrogenic and androgenic neurosteroids in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of male rats, using 281 hippocampal slices from 112 rats. It found that 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) synthesis was crucial for inducing long-term depression (LTD) with low-frequency stimulation (LFS), while 17b-estradiol (E2) was necessary for long-term potentiation (LTP) with high-frequency stimulation (HFS). Inhibition of DHT synthesis prevented LTD, and E2 was essential for full LTP development. The findings highlighted distinct roles for DHT and E2 in modulating synaptic plasticity, suggesting their influence on learning and memory.

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