Neuroprotective actions of sex steroids in Parkinson's disease

Neuroprotective actions of sex steroids in Parkinson's disease

Bourque M; Dluzen D E; Di Paolo T

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

2009

2009-07

The sex difference in Parkinson's disease, with a higher susceptibility in men, suggests a modulatory effect of sex steroids in the brain. Numerous studies highlight that sex steroids have neuroprotective properties against various brain injuries. This paper reviews the protective effects of sex hormones, particularly estradiol, progesterone and androgens, in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) animal model of Parkinson's disease as compared to methamphetamine toxicity. The molecular mechanisms underlying beneficial actions of sex steroids on the brain have been investigated showing steroid, dose, timing and duration specificities and presently focus is on the dopamine signaling pathways, the next frontier. Both genomic and non-genomic actions of estrogen converge to promote survival factors and show sex differences. Neuroprotection by estrogen involves activation of signaling molecules such as the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Interaction with growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor 1, also contributes to protective actions of estrogen. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

parkinsons-disease; Neuroprotection; MPTP; Akt; Neurosciences & Neurology; Endocrinology & Metabolism; estrogen-receptor-alpha; rat cortical-neurons; methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity; activated protein-kinase; mptp-induced neurotoxicity; glycogen-synthase kinase-3-beta; Androgens; estrogen; induced cell-death; MAPK/ERK; Methamphetamine; nigrostriatal dopaminergic system; Progesterone; regulates bcl-2 expression; Sex difference; vesicular monoamine transporter

Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

142-157

2

30