Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 131 (2012) 1

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Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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Editorial

Steroid icitneuron

Steroidsentiation anand primincontrol mathe adaptioin which thagainst dam

The braand is thuthat act loever, also epathwayshampering ual routes tsteroids in neuromodua neurotranreceptors anery by bindthe target gsignaling, srapidly indumones, andoften act insteroid horseveral fact

The mulactions, ranas well as theven more dare increasiof neurostethe jungle oknowledge protective ngathering information and new data at short intervals, as we haveattempted in this special edition.

The present review covers the widespread potential of steroidhormones in the nervous system and particularly focuses on twoselective as

The rsthippocampwith sex dihippocamppresented bshows that

lasmvity ts a nity or rem

wit sec

as ions.f gonondrow terimcal nhowraum

volta that-1 exreasmighia.s speteroiditiolar, mone an the t ischhormchesellin

Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen, 52074Aachen, Germany

Gabriele Rune2

Institute of Anatomy, Universittsklinikum

0960-0760/$ http://dx.doi.opects. set of data concentrates on synaptic plasticity in theus. The work presented by the group of G. Rune dealsfferences in estrogen-regulated synaptogenesis in theus and the involvement of GnRH signaling. The articley the group of S. Kawato rounds off this aspect and

hippocampus-derived estrogen is remarkably higher

Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, GermanyE-mail addresses: cbeyer@ukaachen.de (C. Beyer),

rune@uke.uni-hamburg.de (G. Rune)

1 Tel: +49 0241 80 89110.2 Tel: +49 040 42803 2575.

see front matter 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.rg/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2012.04.002jo u r n al hom epage: www.elsev ier

s in the brain: Regulators of brain plastal damage

are essential for our brain. From the early steps of differ-d development, when they participate in the formationg of neural networks, to the adult brain, in which theyjor endocrine as well as non-endocrine systems andn to the environment, nally to the senescent brain,ey help maintain neuronal performance and protectage.

in is equipped with all enzymes of steroidogenesis,s capable of synthesizing so-called neurosteroidscally to modify neural performance. Steroids, how-nter the brain from the peripheral circulation. Bothparacrine versus endocrineare often interlinked, thusthe precise clarication and attribution of the individ-o physiological processes. Irrespective of the origin ofthe CNS, they act as a hormone, often, functioning as alator and also often with a function similar to that ofsmitter. Classically, steroid hormones bind to nucleard these complexes induce the transcriptional machin-ing to responsive elements in the promoter region ofene. Besides this comparatively slow genomic way ofteroid hormones, via their cognate receptors, can alsoce signaling cascades that they share with other hor-

most importantly, also with neurotransmitters, and concert with these. Finally, as far as brain-derived

mones are concerned, their synthesis is inuenced byors, some of which very rapidly alter steroid synthesis.titude of cellular signaling responses and physiologicalging from secondsminuteshoursdays in their timinge diversity of responsive cell types in the brain, makes itifcult to understand their exact role. Nevertheless, wengly beginning to untangle the multiplicity of the actionroids at the cellular and molecular level and to pervadef steroid effects in neural systems. The rapidly emergingof the role of neurosteroids in the CNS, including theirature during neuropathological processes, necessitates

than ptic actipresenplasticcellulaactions

Theteroidsconditcacy omitochings shan expwith lostein safter tade ofreportSREBPgen incwhich ischem

Thineuroscal conmolecuof horprovidtigate againsing of approaremody and protectors against

a estrogen and can trigger the modulation of synap-through rapid and slow genomic actions. D. Srivastavaovel rapid two-step wiring model of estrogen-inducedf hippocampal circuits involving the molecular andodelling of the dendritic synapse structure and inter-

h the cytoskeleton and glutamate receptor trafcking.ond set of manuscripts concerns the role of neuros-neuroprotective molecules with respect to ischemic

The data from the group of C. Beyer highlight the ef-adal steroids in regulating the energy demand andial capacity of neural cells, whereas another set of nd-hat estrogen and progesterone are neuroprotective inental ischemic animal model, most likely by interferingeuroinammatory processes. The work by P. Mermel-s that progesterone ameliorates neuronal dysfunctionatic brain injury, this being achieved by the block-ge-gated calcium channels. Cincioglu and co-workers

ischemic damage increases aromatase and nuclearpression. Finally, A. Nardully demonstrates that estro-es Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase expression in the brain,t play an important role in protecting neurons from

cial issue, by refocusing attention on fundamentalds action under physiological and pathophysiologi-ns in the CNS, sets the stage for the future cellular,behavioral, and also the clinical relevance of this classes. The studies discussed in this review additionallyunderstanding of the new approaches used to inves-protective effects of gonadal/brain intrinsic steroidsemia-related neuronal damage. A better understand-one-brain interactions should promote more exible

to the treatment of cognitive disorders by synapticg and plasticity related to memory function.

Cordian Beyer1