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Estrogen Actions in the Central Nervous System¹

Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021

I. Introduction

II. Mechanisms of Estrogen Action

A. "Genomic" and "nongenomic" mechanisms

B. Steroid hormone actions on gene expression

C. Subtypes of estrogen receptors

D. Steroid hormone actions on putative receptors on membranes

E. Rapid actions of steroids on neuronal excitability

F. Steroid hormone actions via second messengers

G. Neuroprotective effects of estrogens

H. Summary

III. Areas of the Brain Affected Outside of the Hypothalamus

A. Studies of hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic actions of estrogens

B. Estrogens and the cholinergic system

C. Estrogens and the serotonergic system

D. Catecholaminergic neurons

E. Spinal cord

F. Hippocampus

G. Glial cells, endothelial cells, and the blood-brain barrier

H. Summary

IV. Effects of Estrogens on Learning and Memory

V. Estrogens, Neuroprotection, and Alzheimer’s Disease

VI. Conclusions