Oestradiol as a neuromodulator of learning and memory

• Published in: Nature reviews. Neuroscience Vol. 21; no. 10; pp. 535 - 550
• Main Authors: Taxier, Lisa R., Gross, Kellie S., Frick, Karyn M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.10.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/378/1595; 631/477; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Behavioral Sciences; Biological Techniques; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain - physiology; Cognitive ability; Drug development; Estradiol; Estradiol - physiology; Estrogens; Fear - physiology; Female; Females; Fulvestrant; Gender differences; Glucocorticoids; Hormones; Humans; Learning; Learning - physiology; Male; Memory; Memory - physiology; Molecular modelling; Neurobiology; Neuromodulation; Neurons - physiology; Neurophysiology; Neurosciences; Pattern recognition; Review Article; Sex Characteristics; Sex differences; Signal Transduction; Social interactions; Steroid hormones
• ISSN: 1471-003X; 1471-0048; 1471-0048; 1469-3178
• DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-0362-7

Although hormones such as glucocorticoids have been broadly accepted in recent decades as general neuromodulators of memory processes, sex steroid hormones such as the potent oestrogen 17β-oestradiol have been less well recognized by the scientific community in this capacity. The predominance of females in studies of oestradiol and memory and the general (but erroneous) perception that oestrogens are ‘female’ hormones have probably prevented oestradiol from being more widely considered as a key memory modulator in both sexes. Indeed, although considerable evidence supports a crucial role for oestradiol in regulating learning and memory in females, a growing body of literature indicates a similar role in males. This Review discusses the mechanisms of oestradiol signalling and provides an overview of the effects of oestradiol on spatial, object recognition, social and fear memories. Although the primary focus is on data collected in females, effects of oestradiol on memory in males will be discussed, as will sex differences in the molecular mechanisms that regulate oestrogenic modulation of memory, which may have important implications for the development of future cognitive therapeutics. Sex steroid hormones such as the potent oestrogen 17β-oestradiol have only recently started to be acknowledged as important neuromodulators. Taxier, Gross and Frick review 17β-oestradiol signalling in the brain and its effects on different types of memory.