Frye Cheryl A, Koonce Carolyn J, Walf Alicia A
Department of Psychology, University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, New York 12222, USA.
Neuroreport. 2010 Jun 2;21(8):590-5. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0b013e32833a7e14.
Ovarian hormones organize and activate neural circuits for reproduction and may also mediate cognition. Research has focused on estradiol's mnemonic effects, albeit progesterone covaries with estradiol and its mechanisms for cognition require attention. Studies tested the hypothesis that cognitive effects of progesterone occur subsequent to its metabolism to 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP), which does not bind progestin receptors. Cognitive performance and progestogen levels in plasma, hippocampus, and cortex were determined in ovariectomized mice administered vehicle, or progestins that differentially form 3alpha,5alpha-THP and bind progestin receptors (progesterone, 3alpha,5alpha-THP, and/or medroxyprogesterone acetate). Only treatments that increased 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels during memory consolidation (progesterone, 3alpha,5alpha-THP, 3alpha-5alpha-THP plus medroxyprogesterone acetate, but not progesterone plus medroxyprogesterone acetate) improved cognitive performance. Thus, formation of 3alpha,5alpha-THP may be required for progesterone's cognitive-enhancing effects.
卵巢激素构建并激活用于生殖的神经回路,还可能介导认知功能。研究主要集中在雌二醇的记忆效应上,尽管孕酮与雌二醇共同变化,其认知机制也需要关注。研究检验了这样一个假设:孕酮代谢为5α-孕烷-3α-醇-20-酮(3α,5α-四氢孕酮)后会产生认知效应,而3α,5α-四氢孕酮不与孕激素受体结合。在接受赋形剂或能不同程度形成3α,5α-四氢孕酮并与孕激素受体结合的孕激素(孕酮、3α,5α-四氢孕酮和/或醋酸甲羟孕酮)的去卵巢小鼠中,测定其认知表现以及血浆、海马体和皮质中的孕激素水平。只有在记忆巩固期间能提高3α,5α-四氢孕酮水平的处理(孕酮、3α,5α-四氢孕酮、3α-5α-四氢孕酮加醋酸甲羟孕酮,但不是孕酮加醋酸甲羟孕酮)能改善认知表现。因此,3α,5α-四氢孕酮的形成可能是孕酮产生认知增强作用所必需的。