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Differential effects of glucocorticoids and gonadal steroids on glutathione levels in neuronal and glial cell systems
Author(s) -
Schmidt A.J.,
Krieg J.C.,
Vedder H.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.10146
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , corticosterone , glucocorticoid , hippocampal formation , glutathione , incubation , dexamethasone , pregnenolone , steroid hormone , neuroprotection , chemistry , hormone , biology , steroid , biochemistry , enzyme
The aim of the present study was to investigate the short‐ and long‐term effects of glucocorticoids [corticosterone (CORT), dexamethasone (DEX), 6‐methylprednisolone (6‐MP)] and gonadal steroids [17β‐estradiol (E 2 ), progesterone (PROG), testosterone (TEST)] on the levels of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in different cell systems of the CNS (neuronal hippocampal HT22 cells, primary hippocampal and neocortical brain cells, and C 6 glioma cells). In HT22 cells, steroids exerted mainly long‐term effects. Significant increases of GSH levels were detectable after a 24 hr treatment with 10 −7 M of DEX (122% ± 5%), 6‐MP (208% ± 32%), E 2 (134% ± 10%), and TEST (155% ± 17%). A significant decrease occurred after incubation with PROG for 24 hr (79% ± 9%). In primary hippocampal cultures, a 24 hr treatment with DEX (140% ± 8%), E 2 (123% ± 6%), and PROG (118% ± 5%) led to significant increases of the GSH levels, whereas, in neocortical primary cultures, only an incubation with E 2 increased GSH (149% ± 8%). In C 6 cells, hormone treatment led to both significant short‐term (1 hr: CORT 114% ± 5%, DEX 90% ± 3%, E 2 88% ± 3%; 3 hr: DEX 115% ± 5%, E 2 122% ± 6%, TEST 78% ± 4%) and significant long‐term (24 hr: CORT 74% ± 4%, 6‐MP 84% ± 5%, E 2 115% ± 6%, PROG 91% ± 4%, TEST 116% ± 5%) effects. In summary, we were able to demonstrate differential effects of steroids on GSH levels in different cellular CNS models, showing an important influence of steroids and especially E 2 on antioxidative cellular functions in neuronal and glial cells. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.