Synaptocrine Signaling: Steroid Synthesis and Action at the Synapse

Sex steroids have long been recognized for their dramatic impact on brain and behavior, including rapid modulation of membrane excitability. It is a widely held perception that these molecules are largely derived from peripheral sources and lack the spatial and temporal specificity ascribed to class...

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Published inEndocrine reviews Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 532 - 549
Main Authors Saldanha, Colin J, Remage-Healey, Luke, Schlinger, Barney A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.08.2011
Copyright by The Endocrine Society
Subjects
Animals
Aromatase - metabolism
Biological and medical sciences
Birds - metabolism
Brain - metabolism
Estrogens - biosynthesis
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Reviews
Synapses - metabolism
Synaptic Transmission
Vertebrates: endocrinology
Steroid
Signal transduction
Synapse
Biosynthesis
Review
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Summary:Sex steroids have long been recognized for their dramatic impact on brain and behavior, including rapid modulation of membrane excitability. It is a widely held perception that these molecules are largely derived from peripheral sources and lack the spatial and temporal specificity ascribed to classical neuromodulatory systems. Neuromodulatory systems, in contrast, are defined by their regulated neuronal presynaptic secretion and by their functional modulation of perisynaptic events. Here we provide evidence for regulated presynaptic estrogen synthesis and functional postsynaptic actions. These results meet all the criteria for a neuromodulatory system and shift our perception of estrogens from that of peripheral signals exclusively to include that of a signaling system intrinsic to the brain itself. We apply the term synaptocrine to describe this form of neuromodulation.
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C.J.S. and L.R.-H. contributed equally to the experiments and concepts described in this review.
ISSN:0163-769X
1945-7189
DOI:10.1210/er.2011-0004