ReviewSexual neurosteroids and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus

- Sexual neurosteroids control synapse turnover in a paracrine manner.
- Effects of neurosteroids on synapse formation are sex-specific.
- Effects of neurosteroids on synapse formation are sex-specific.
- GnRH regulates neurosteroid synthesis in the hippocampus.
- Synapse loss after blockade of neurosteroid synthesis correlates with LTP impairment.
- Inhibition of aromatase impairs hippocampal LTP in females but not in males.

Sexual neurosteroids (SN), namely 17β-estradiol (E2) and 5α-dehydrotestosterone (DHT), are synthesized in the hippocampus, where they induce circuit modifications by changing the number of excitatory spine synapses in a paracrine and sex-specific manner. The mechanisms of this sex-specific synapse turnover, which are likely to affect cognitive functions, are poorly understood. We found that hippocampal neurons synthesize estradiol, which maintains LTP and synapses in females but not in males. In females, inhibition of estradiol synthesis results in impairment of LTP and synapse loss. These effects were not seen in males. The essential role of local estrogen on the stability and maintenance of connectivity in the hippocampus is consistent with age-related cognitive decline in women after menopause. In male animals the regulation of synaptic stability and plasticity by locally synthesized sexual steroids remains to be clarified.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Brain and Memory.