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Rapid actions of oestrogens and their receptors on memory acquisition and consolidation in females
Author(s) -
Sheppard P. A. S.,
Koss W. A.,
Frick K. M.,
Choleris E.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/jne.12485
Subject(s) - memory consolidation , prefrontal cortex , neuroscience , amygdala , hippocampus , receptor , medicine , psychology , agonist , estrogen receptor , endocrinology , cognition , cancer , breast cancer
Increased attention has been paid in recent years to the ways in which oestrogens and oestrogen receptors rapidly affect learning and memory. These rapid effects occur within a timeframe that is too narrow for the classical genomic mode of action of oestrogen, thus suggesting nonclassical effects as underlying mechanisms. The present review examines recent developments in the study of the rapid effects of 17β‐oestradiol and oestrogen receptor ( ER ) agonists on learning and memory tasks in female rodents, including social recognition, object recognition, object placement (spatial memory) and social learning. By comparing studies utilising systemic or intracranial treatments, as well as pre‐ and post‐acquisition administration of oestradiol or ER agonists, the respective contributions of individual ER s within specific brain regions to various forms of learning and memory can be determined. The first part of this review explores the effects of systemic administration of 17β‐oestradiol and ER agonists on memory when administered either pre‐ or post‐acquisition. The second part not only focuses on the effects of pre‐ and post‐acquisition infusions of 17β‐oestradiol or ER agonists into the dorsal hippocampus on memory, but also discusses the contributions of other brain regions, including the medial amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. The cellular mechanisms mediating the rapid effects of 17β‐oestradiol on memory, including activation of intracellular signalling cascades and epigenetic processes, are discussed. Finally, the review concludes by comparing pre‐ and post‐acquisition findings and effects of 17β‐oestradiol and ER agonists in different brain regions.