Estrogen receptors in the central nervous system and their implication for dopamine-dependent cognition in females.

TitleEstrogen receptors in the central nervous system and their implication for dopamine-dependent cognition in females.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsAlmey A, Milner TA, Brake WG
JournalHorm Behav
Volume74
Pagination125-38
Date Published2015 Aug
ISSN1095-6867
KeywordsAnimals, Cell Membrane, Central Nervous System, Cognition, Dopamine, Estradiol, Female, Humans, Learning, Memory, Receptors, Estrogen
Abstract

This article is part of a Special Issue "Estradiol and cognition". Over the past 30 years, research has demonstrated that estrogens not only are important for female reproduction, but also play a role in a diverse array of cognitive functions. Originally, estrogens were thought to have only one receptor, localized exclusively to the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells. However, it is now known that there are at least three estrogen receptors (ERs): ERα, ERβ and G-protein coupled ER1 (GPER1). In addition to being localized to nuclei, ERα and ERβ are localized to the cell membrane, and GPER1 is also observed at the cell membrane. The mechanism through which ERs are associated with the membrane remains unclear, but palmitoylation of receptors and associations between ERs and caveolin are implicated in membrane association. ERα and ERβ are mostly observed in the nucleus using light microscopy unless they are particularly abundant. However, electron microscopy has revealed that ERs are also found at the membrane in complimentary distributions in multiple brain regions, many of which are innervated by dopamine inputs and were previously thought to contain few ERs. In particular, membrane-associated ERs are observed in the prefrontal cortex, dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus, all of which are involved in learning and memory. These findings provide a mechanism for the rapid effects of estrogens in these regions. The effects of estrogens on dopamine-dependent cognition likely result from binding at both nuclear and membrane-associated ERs, so elucidating the localization of membrane-associated ERs helps provide a more complete understanding of the cognitive effects of these hormones.

DOI10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.06.010
Alternate JournalHorm Behav
PubMed ID26122294
PubMed Central IDPMC4820286
Grant ListDA08259 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
HL096571 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 DA008259 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL098351 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HL098351 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P01 AG016765 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P01 HL096571 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
AG016765 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States