Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 503, Issue 2, 4 December 1989, Pages 354-357
Brain Research

Short communication
Estrogen administration increases neuronal responses to excitatory amino acids as a long-term effect

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(89)91691-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Ongoing studies from this laboratory have demonstrated marked potentiating actions of the sex steroid 17β-estradiol (E2) on glutamate-induced excitation. In the present study, systemic injection of a physiological dose fo E2 was demonstrated to augment significantly excitatory responses of cerebellar Purkinje (Pnj) cells to iontophoretic application of the specific excitatory amino acid (e.a.a.) agonists quisqualate and N-methyl-d-aspartate. Potentiation of e.a.a. responses was observed as rapidly as 5–10 min post E2, and was, in many cases, a persistent, non-decremental effect. These observed long-term actions of E2 may provide one mechanism for the activating effects of the steroid on sensorimotor function and acitivity.

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This work was supported by NIH Grant NS25809.

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